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NYU | Casa Italiana

A detailed baroque painting reminiscent of NYUs art collection, depicting a multitude of mythological figures gathered among clouds. Some are adorned with drapery and laurel wreaths, while others play musical instruments. The scene exudes movement and drama with dynamic poses and expressions.

INTRODUCTION

A New Home for Italian Culture at New York University (NYU)

At Takt, we believe digital experiences are more than just interfaces—they are storytelling tools that shape identity, legacy, and cultural resonance. We build brands and digital platforms that not only perform but endure, balancing modern functionality with deep-rooted meaning.

That ethos led us to Casa Italiana Zerilli-Marimò—or simply, Casa—a cornerstone of Italian culture at New York University (NYU) and a bridge between Italy and the U.S. Casa hosts free public events, academic discussions, and artistic performances, making it a hub for cultural and intellectual exchange.

Casa needed a website that could match its mission—one that felt as rich, layered, and immersive as the institution itself. The challenge? Aligning with NYU’s broader digital ecosystem while preserving Casa’s distinct voice.

We partnered with Casa to craft a brand-led website experience that seamlessly blends heritage and modernity, ensuring its digital presence not only informs but captivates.

Cultivating Inclusivity Through Messaging

Our work with Casa began by addressing the fundamental question: How do we distill an institution’s cultural essence into a digital space while ensuring accessibility, clarity, and engagement?

Casa exists at the crossroads of higher education, the arts, and public discourse—an intellectual home where the past meets the present. To translate this into a compelling brand strategy, we conducted deep discovery sessions, aligning Casa’s voice with NYU’s broader framework while ensuring it remained unmistakably its own entity.

A Humanities-Driven Digital Experience

At its core, Casa is more than a cultural center—it is a champion of the humanities. Our messaging strategy drew inspiration from Renaissance humanism, centering on values like:

  • Mutual respect – Open discourse and cross-cultural dialogue.
  • Freedom of thought – An institution where knowledge is not confined to classrooms.
  • Universal access to knowledge – A commitment to public, free programming.

This historical foundation wasn’t just thematic—it was strategic. Casa’s brand story needed to transcend academic language and connect with diverse audiences, from students and scholars to the broader New York cultural community. The result? A messaging framework that honored Casa’s past while reinforcing its role in today’s cultural landscape.

Timeless Italian Design

Higher education websites often face aesthetic and functional challenges—they must fit within institutional branding while standing out in a competitive digital space. Casa’s website had to do both.

Our design solution centered on:

    • Harmonizing Casa’s identity with NYU’s branding—leveraging NYU’s iconic purple while introducing a complementary palette inspired by Italian art and architecture.
    • A type system that embodies sophistication—Gotham, a font chosen for its structural elegance and historical weight, echoing Italy’s architectural legacy while maintaining a modern feel.
    • Immersive digital storytelling—a site that feels like stepping into Casa’s historic brownstone, with elegant visual flourishes that mirror its physical space.

This wasn’t just about aesthetics—it was about ensuring Casa’s brand resonated deeply with digital-first users, whether a student exploring events or an academic engaging with research materials.

NYU website design and development project by Takt showcasing multiple screens.

USER EXPERIENCE (UX)

UX That Drives Engagement

Beyond its design, the new website had to function as a true engagement tool—a dynamic, accessible hub that connected visitors with Casa’s vast programming. We implemented:

  • An intuitive, interactive event calendar – Allowing users to browse and filter by interest, driving an 80% increase in event attendance.
  • A content-first approach – Ensuring Casa’s rich video, photo, and written archives were easily navigable and optimized for SEO-driven discoverability.
  • Mobile-first design – Given the site’s academic and public audience, it had to be fully responsive, ensuring accessibility on any device.

This user-centric approach led to significant engagement growth, proving that a higher education website design can be both strategic and deeply human.

METRICS

+ 70 % ORGANIC SEARCH TRAFFIC

Increased visibility, ensuring more users found and engaged with Casa’s programming.

+ 71 % PAGE VIEWS

Deeper site engagement, reflecting a stronger user experience and better content navigation.

+ 80 % EVENT COUNT

Streamlined UX and clearer calls to action directly influenced attendance growth.

+ 82 % TOTAL SESSIONS

More users staying longer, exploring more pages, and returning more frequently.

+ 52 % NEW USERS

SEO-driven discovery and improved brand clarity brought in a broader audience than ever before.

RESULTS

Reframing Higher Education Website Design

Too often, higher education websites sacrifice identity for usability—or vice versa. This project proved that the two aren’t at odds.

At Takt, we approach higher education website design as an opportunity to do more than inform—it should inspire, engage, and tell a story. Casa Italiana’s new digital home is proof that a university-affiliated website can be distinct, immersive, and built for both legacy and growth.

The work we do isn’t just about websites. It’s about crafting experiences that matter. And for Casa, that meant building a digital space that honors its heritage while making it unmistakably relevant for the future.

Ready to build a website that isn’t just functional, but iconic? Let’s talk.

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