CUH2A

A Visual Expression of Synergy

CUH2A, a global architecture, engineering, and planning firm based near Princeton, New Jersey, focuses on the design of scientific research, educational, and technology facilities. CUH2A leadership collaborated with the interaction design team at Tanagram to develop a truly innovative user experience for the Web—one that would both literally and metaphorically express the synergistic relationship between all aspects of the various disciplines at CUH2A. The designers at CUH2A see themselves as stewards of the environment, advocates of discovery, and partners in the process of elevating the human condition through scientific research. And they see their work in these areas as completely relational and interdependent. Their website needed to exemplify this belief.

The CUH2A website launched in early 2007 and features an innovative Adobe FlashTM interface that dynamically and visually links each piece of content on the site with every other related item. As the user rolls over the “matrix” of content dots (each with an assigned tone), a series of connections is drawn that results in a musical chord. To assist the user, a more standard navigation runs in parallel. Once the user has selected a content path, a set of closely-related content items is always displayed in close proximity.

Being viewed as an innovative and design-focused AEP firm is essential to CUH2A. This goal is clearly communicated through the site, which has already garnered significant design accolades.