NYU Casa Italiana
NYU’s Casa Italiana and Takt team up to create a modernized brand and website that spark enlightening conversations through the magic of Italian culture.
Terry Knickerbocker Studio
INTRODUCTION
Acting Beyond the Stage: Redesigning a Legacy
Terry Knickerbocker Studio, nestled in Brooklyn’s artistic heart of Industry City, came to us in early 2024 with a challenge: their website didn’t live up to their stellar reputation. The previous site, a “frankensite” cobbled together over years, felt outdated, chaotic, and failed to embody the studio’s vibrant in-person experience. Despite being one of New York’s premier acting schools, the digital presence struggled to reflect their excellence in teaching the Meisner Technique or their close-knit, dynamic community.
With their 10th anniversary on the horizon, TKS sought a site that would stand the test of time—a digital home as polished and enduring as their reputation.
Building an Online Stage for an Iconic Studio
The mission was clear: create a user-friendly, visually compelling WordPress site that highlights TKS’s distinctive offerings and culture. To achieve this, we embraced a custom WordPress theme, emphasizing UX design to simplify the navigation of their expansive programs. The new site needed to be WCAG AA 2.1 accessible, fully optimized for performance, and mobile-friendly—ensuring students on the go could connect seamlessly.
Given the diverse range of classes, from two-year conservatory programs to seasonal intensives and one-off specialties, we streamlined the structure through an intuitive mega-navigation. Each program’s application process was tailored for clarity, with special focus on guiding international students. To add depth, we implemented reusable atomic design components, ensuring scalability for future growth.
Honoring a Community in Every Pixel
TKS prides itself on a sense of belonging, a quality we honored by weaving their community spirit into every design decision. Drawing inspiration from their physical location—Industry City’s refurbished industrial warehouses—we infused the site with modern aesthetics, tying in the urban creative vibe of Brooklyn. The acorn, a symbol of the Meisner Technique, became a recurring motif, subtly reinforcing their identity.
To highlight the human stories at the heart of TKS, we revamped their blog into a digestible, engaging space for sharing insights and updates. Additionally, we prioritized “TKS Conversations,” a showcase of their star-studded alumni, ensuring their legacy shone brightly for prospective students.
A Digital Experience Worthy of the Spotlight
The result was a website as dynamic and refined as the studio it represents. Every feature was carefully crafted, from the Salesforce integration and student portal to the optimized booking system for rental spaces. By expanding the brand’s color palette, we enhanced wayfinding and usability, creating a site that’s both sophisticated and intuitive.
Launched in December 2024, the new site was ready to welcome students ahead of their January enrollment cycle, marking a milestone in TKS’s journey. A scalable, enduring platform now reflects their reputation, captures their unique identity, and sets the stage for the next decade.
