City of Jyväskylä

City of Jyväskylä: A website that boldly brings the brand to life

Mobile usability, findability and a strong brand at the heart of the renewal

One of the key goals of the Jyväskylä.fi renewal was to improve the user experience and make information easier to find. Navigation and content highlight elements were developed based on the principle that the most important services and content should be as easy to access as possible. There was also a clear need to improve the mobile experience, which did not sufficiently meet users’ needs. Website analytics showed that as many as two thirds of visitors access the service on mobile devices, but the user experience did not adequately support mobile use.

Alongside user-centred development, another key objective was to renew the website’s visual identity to align with the city’s brand guidelines. The colour palette, visual language and UI elements were updated to support Jyväskylä’s brand identity and create a consistent digital experience. The website also incorporates shapes inspired by the city’s brand, familiar from Jyväskylä’s lake landscapes and waves. These elements make the service easily recognisable and strengthen its distinctive visual identity.

The technical implementation required precise scoping

The Drupal environment behind the Jyväskylä.fi website consists of more than 15 separate subsites, including the Jyväskylä Symphony and Jyväskylä City Theatre, whose visual appearance was left unchanged. The system settings were largely shared across the entire environment, which meant that precise scoping was essential during implementation. Exove developed customised modules and technical solutions that allowed the new theme to be applied exclusively to the city’s main website. This made it possible to renew the look and feel and user experience of the main website without affecting the subsites.

The result: a modern website that evolves with its users

The renewed website was launched after approximately six months of development. The city now has a modern website that better meets the needs of mobile users, supports the long-term development of digital services, and boldly brings the City of Jyväskylä’s brand to life.

The renewal has received a highly positive response, both within the organisation and among local residents. Users have particularly praised the website’s spacious, clear structure and the improved user experience brought by the new visual identity. Feedback has described the renewal, for example, as “Spacious and sufficiently ‘airy’ in its layout. A successful renewal!” and “The visual appearance is definitely a major improvement compared to the previous one. The blue wave theme comes through clearly in the soft shapes of the design, and the coloured boxes make navigating the site much easier.” User feedback collected after the launch has also helped guide the continued development of the service.

Development is still ongoing. The next steps include supporting content creators in their work, finalising the project portfolio integration, and strengthening the website’s visibility in search engines and AI-powered search services.

Key impacts of the renewal:

• Mobile usability put first: The website was designed to meet users’ actual needs, as two thirds of visitors access the service on mobile devices.

• A modern user experience: The user interface was renewed to improve information findability and accessibility.

• Data-driven navigation: Navigation was developed based on analytics, shifting from an organisation-centred structure towards a user-centred service experience.

• A stronger digital brand: Jyväskylä’s distinctive visual language and brand identity were made a visible part of the website.

• A technically controlled renewal: The main website’s visual identity was renewed without affecting more than 15 Drupal subsites, even though they operate within the same monolithic Drupal environment rather than a separate multisite setup.

• Open collaboration: The project also involved clear prioritisation decisions and adapting to changing circumstances, while collaboration remained open and solution-oriented throughout the project.