Aligning and Defining: Discovery for the Australian Academy of Science
Nomat partnered with the Australian Academy of Science to lead the discovery phase of their website redevelopment. Our work was tailored, pragmatic and focused on setting the project up for long-term success. By aligning stakeholders, uncovering user needs and clarifying operational gaps, we helped the Academy mitigate risk, avoid costly missteps and build a strong foundation for implementation.
Aligning and Defining: Discovery for the Australian Academy of Science
Nomat partnered with the Australian Academy of Science to lead the discovery phase of their website redevelopment. Our work was tailored, pragmatic and focused on setting the project up for long-term success. By aligning stakeholders, uncovering user needs and clarifying operational gaps, we helped the Academy mitigate risk, avoid costly missteps and build a strong foundation for implementation.
Aligning and Defining: Discovery for the Australian Academy of Science
Nomat partnered with the Australian Academy of Science to lead the discovery phase of their website redevelopment. Our work was tailored, pragmatic and focused on setting the project up for long-term success. By aligning stakeholders, uncovering user needs and clarifying operational gaps, we helped the Academy mitigate risk, avoid costly missteps and build a strong foundation for implementation.
Background
The Australian Academy of Science represents the nation’s foremost scientists and works to advance scientific knowledge for the benefit of all Australians. With its website due for redevelopment, the Academy recognised a need to realign its digital presence with evolving organisational goals and audience expectations.
Nomat was engaged to lead a discovery process, not just to define requirements, but to de-risk delivery by aligning stakeholders, clarifying the website’s role and recommending improvements in content and governance across their broader digital ecosystem.
Background
The Australian Academy of Science represents the nation’s foremost scientists and works to advance scientific knowledge for the benefit of all Australians. With its website due for redevelopment, the Academy recognised a need to realign its digital presence with evolving organisational goals and audience expectations.
Nomat was engaged to lead a discovery process, not just to define requirements, but to de-risk delivery by aligning stakeholders, clarifying the website’s role and recommending improvements in content and governance across their broader digital ecosystem.
Background
The Australian Academy of Science represents the nation’s foremost scientists and works to advance scientific knowledge for the benefit of all Australians. With its website due for redevelopment, the Academy recognised a need to realign its digital presence with evolving organisational goals and audience expectations.
Nomat was engaged to lead a discovery process, not just to define requirements, but to de-risk delivery by aligning stakeholders, clarifying the website’s role and recommending improvements in content and governance across their broader digital ecosystem.
What we did
We don’t believe in cookie-cutter solutions. Every organisation is different, and so is every discovery. For the Academy, we combined targeted workshops, executive interviews and operational analysis to uncover insights that were as actionable as they were strategic.
What we did
We don’t believe in cookie-cutter solutions. Every organisation is different, and so is every discovery. For the Academy, we combined targeted workshops, executive interviews and operational analysis to uncover insights that were as actionable as they were strategic.
What we did
We don’t believe in cookie-cutter solutions. Every organisation is different, and so is every discovery. For the Academy, we combined targeted workshops, executive interviews and operational analysis to uncover insights that were as actionable as they were strategic.
Stakeholder engagement
We ran cross-functional workshops with Fellows, scientists and operational teams, using methods suited to the context and comfort of each group. Pre-workshop input activities extended the reach of engagement and ensured quiet voices weren’t left out. This phase was crucial in surfacing areas of misalignment, revealing competing assumptions and building shared clarity around the role and purpose of the website.
Stakeholder engagement
We ran cross-functional workshops with Fellows, scientists and operational teams, using methods suited to the context and comfort of each group. Pre-workshop input activities extended the reach of engagement and ensured quiet voices weren’t left out. This phase was crucial in surfacing areas of misalignment, revealing competing assumptions and building shared clarity around the role and purpose of the website.
Stakeholder engagement
We ran cross-functional workshops with Fellows, scientists and operational teams, using methods suited to the context and comfort of each group. Pre-workshop input activities extended the reach of engagement and ensured quiet voices weren’t left out. This phase was crucial in surfacing areas of misalignment, revealing competing assumptions and building shared clarity around the role and purpose of the website.
Operational discovery
We examined how the website was being managed behind the scenes, including publishing processes, CMS constraints and organisational roles. Our analysis spanned the main Academy site and six additional microsites, highlighting areas for consolidation and improvement. These insights informed practical recommendations on future content governance and platform design, which in turn helped the Academy avoid rework later.
Operational discovery
We examined how the website was being managed behind the scenes, including publishing processes, CMS constraints and organisational roles. Our analysis spanned the main Academy site and six additional microsites, highlighting areas for consolidation and improvement. These insights informed practical recommendations on future content governance and platform design, which in turn helped the Academy avoid rework later.
Operational discovery
We examined how the website was being managed behind the scenes, including publishing processes, CMS constraints and organisational roles. Our analysis spanned the main Academy site and six additional microsites, highlighting areas for consolidation and improvement. These insights informed practical recommendations on future content governance and platform design, which in turn helped the Academy avoid rework later.
Executive interviews
In one-on-one interviews with the CEO and Executive Committee, we explored the Academy’s broader strategic goals and surfaced key considerations for how the digital presence should evolve. These insights anchored the project in leadership’s vision while connecting it to the day-to-day needs uncovered in other sessions.
Executive interviews
In one-on-one interviews with the CEO and Executive Committee, we explored the Academy’s broader strategic goals and surfaced key considerations for how the digital presence should evolve. These insights anchored the project in leadership’s vision while connecting it to the day-to-day needs uncovered in other sessions.
Executive interviews
In one-on-one interviews with the CEO and Executive Committee, we explored the Academy’s broader strategic goals and surfaced key considerations for how the digital presence should evolve. These insights anchored the project in leadership’s vision while connecting it to the day-to-day needs uncovered in other sessions.
Bringing the research to life
Following synthesis, we developed a suite of impactful artefacts that made the insights real and actionable:
Bringing the research to life
Following synthesis, we developed a suite of impactful artefacts that made the insights real and actionable:
Bringing the research to life
Following synthesis, we developed a suite of impactful artefacts that made the insights real and actionable:
Personas
Rather than abstract user types, our personas were grounded in research and focused on practical application. They captured the distinct needs and behaviours of key user groups (from teachers and students to policymakers and journalists) and highlighted what each group needed from the site. The personas served as reference points for future content planning, information architecture and user flows.
User journey maps
Our journey maps visualised the actual experience of engaging with the Academy online- not just steps taken, but thoughts, emotions, pain points and opportunities. These maps enabled teams to identify gaps in the current experience and prioritise design improvements that would matter most to users. They weren’t just informative, they built empathy, sparked conversations and shaped decision-making.
Personas
Rather than abstract user types, our personas were grounded in research and focused on practical application. They captured the distinct needs and behaviours of key user groups (from teachers and students to policymakers and journalists) and highlighted what each group needed from the site. The personas served as reference points for future content planning, information architecture and user flows.
User journey maps
Our journey maps visualised the actual experience of engaging with the Academy online- not just steps taken, but thoughts, emotions, pain points and opportunities. These maps enabled teams to identify gaps in the current experience and prioritise design improvements that would matter most to users. They weren’t just informative, they built empathy, sparked conversations and shaped decision-making.
Personas
Rather than abstract user types, our personas were grounded in research and focused on practical application. They captured the distinct needs and behaviours of key user groups (from teachers and students to policymakers and journalists) and highlighted what each group needed from the site. The personas served as reference points for future content planning, information architecture and user flows.
User journey maps
Our journey maps visualised the actual experience of engaging with the Academy online- not just steps taken, but thoughts, emotions, pain points and opportunities. These maps enabled teams to identify gaps in the current experience and prioritise design improvements that would matter most to users. They weren’t just informative, they built empathy, sparked conversations and shaped decision-making.
Personas
Rather than abstract user types, our personas were grounded in research and focused on practical application. They captured the distinct needs and behaviours of key user groups (from teachers and students to policymakers and journalists) and highlighted what each group needed from the site. The personas served as reference points for future content planning, information architecture and user flows.
User journey maps
Our journey maps visualised the actual experience of engaging with the Academy online- not just steps taken, but thoughts, emotions, pain points and opportunities. These maps enabled teams to identify gaps in the current experience and prioritise design improvements that would matter most to users. They weren’t just informative, they built empathy, sparked conversations and shaped decision-making.
Strategic impact
Our discovery work helped the Academy:
Avoid misaligned expectations and costly rework
Uncover gaps in governance and content processes
Clarify the purpose and audience of the site
Build internal alignment across diverse stakeholders
Establish a clear pathway for redevelopment
Strategic impact
Our discovery work helped the Academy:
Avoid misaligned expectations and costly rework
Uncover gaps in governance and content processes
Clarify the purpose and audience of the site
Build internal alignment across diverse stakeholders
Establish a clear pathway for redevelopment
Strategic impact
Our discovery work helped the Academy:
Avoid misaligned expectations and costly rework
Uncover gaps in governance and content processes
Clarify the purpose and audience of the site
Build internal alignment across diverse stakeholders
Establish a clear pathway for redevelopment
Services provided by Nomat:
Kick-off workshop
Review of existing research
Executive discovery interviews
Research report and strategic recommendations
Services provided by Nomat:
Kick-off workshop
Review of existing research
Executive discovery interviews
Research report and strategic recommendations
Services provided by Nomat:
Kick-off workshop
Review of existing research
Executive discovery interviews
Research report and strategic recommendations
Outcome
Clear articulation of website purpose and audience needs
Strong stakeholder alignment and shared understanding
Governance and CMS recommendations to support sustainability
Empathy-building tools (personas, journeys) to guide design
A de-risked foundation for redevelopment
“Nomat helped us to re-evaluate the role of our website and consider the way we present our organisation, in particular identifying opportunities to better tell our story and impact to a wider audience. They were easy to work with and delivered practical, useful and actionable feedback.”
Andrew Hood – CIO Australian Academy of Science
Outcome
Clear articulation of website purpose and audience needs
Strong stakeholder alignment and shared understanding
Governance and CMS recommendations to support sustainability
Empathy-building tools (personas, journeys) to guide design
A de-risked foundation for redevelopment
“Nomat helped us to re-evaluate the role of our website and consider the way we present our organisation, in particular identifying opportunities to better tell our story and impact to a wider audience. They were easy to work with and delivered practical, useful and actionable feedback.”
Andrew Hood – CIO Australian Academy of Science
Outcome
Clear articulation of website purpose and audience needs
Strong stakeholder alignment and shared understanding
Governance and CMS recommendations to support sustainability
Empathy-building tools (personas, journeys) to guide design
A de-risked foundation for redevelopment
“Nomat helped us to re-evaluate the role of our website and consider the way we present our organisation, in particular identifying opportunities to better tell our story and impact to a wider audience. They were easy to work with and delivered practical, useful and actionable feedback.”
Andrew Hood – CIO Australian Academy of Science
Interested to know more? Let’s Talk.
Interested to know more? Let’s Talk.
Interested to know more?
Let’s Talk.