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/ Digital marketing case study

Science, beautifully surfaced

We built a custom WordPress site for a UTAS research group doing world-class marine work – designed to feel as immersive as the ocean floor they study.
1
Fully custom-built on WordPress
Built from the ground up using Elementor, GSAP animations, and custom code
2
Publication-ready, filterable archive
Advanced blog and resource filtering allows the group to categorise and share research
3
Designed to feel like the sea
Animations and visual design were crafted to subtly mimic underwater movement
Logo of the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania.

Shelf Ecology Research Group

The Shelf Ecology Research Group, based at the University of Tasmania, is dedicated to exploring and documenting life on Australia’s continental shelf.

Their work supports marine conservation, government policy, and public understanding of our deepwater ecosystems.
With no brand, no site, and no roadmap, the group came to us needing a digital home that could do it all: communicate complex science, house a large and growing collection of research, and reflect the beauty of the marine world they study.

The project

The Shelf Ecology Research Group needed a digital platform that could accurately reflect the depth and complexity of their marine research.

With no existing branding or site structure, they were looking for a partner to help shape everything – from visual identity to content architecture.

The site needed to clearly communicate their mission, store and categorise a growing body of publications, and serve both academic and general audiences.

We approached it like any great research expedition: with structure, precision, and a sense of wonder.
1
No existing branding, visual identity, or content hierarchy
2
Complex scientific messaging that needed to be accessible without being oversimplified
3
Requirement for advanced blog and research archive filtering
4
Desire for subtle, immersive motion that visually echoed the marine environments they study
Website of the Shelf Ecology Research Group, showcasing marine research on continental shelf ecosystems and monitoring method
Explore marine research featuring rare handfish discovery and shark studies at Deakin University's Oceanic Hub.

Website design + custom development

Homepage of the Shelf Ecology Research Group, showcasing marine research through underwater technology and imagery.
Dr. Jacquomo Monk, marine conservationist, discusses research efforts in marine ecosystems, highlighting conservation initiat
A research team operates underwater equipment on a vessel, showcasing marine exploration technology.
Website homepage featuring a sea-themed design and text about researching ocean technologies and monitoring marine environmen
Contact section featuring a world map, email, phone number, and address for collaboration inquiries.
Two vibrant underwater images showcasing marine life, highlighting conservation efforts by Parks Australia and the Marine & C

/ Strategy 1

Strategic storytelling through design and layout

We structured the site to tell the story of the group’s mission clearly and powerfully – from their purpose and partners to the impact of their research. Language was tightened, visuals were chosen with care, and the site’s hierarchy was crafted to balance public readability with academic depth.

/ Strategy 2

Advanced content architecture and publication filtering

A flexible blog and archive system was built to categorise years of research, allowing filters by topic, project, and publication type. It was built to grow with the group, not just store PDFs.
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/ Strategy 3

Interactive animation and ocean-inspired motion

Using GSAP and custom animations, we introduced motion that subtly evoked being underwater – fluid transitions, smooth scrolls, and ambient visual effects that elevated the site experience without distracting from the content.
Silver laurel leaf design, symbolizing achievement and victory, elegantly curving against a transparent background.
Logo of the Institute for Marine and Antarctic Studies (IMAS) at the University of Tasmania.

"I came to Stina with only a rough outline of what I envisioned for my research group’s website. What she delivered far exceeded anything I could have imagined.

Effectively communicating science and research - especially to both general audiences and academic peers - is no small task."

Woman in a life jacket smiles aboard a boat, holding a telescope and surrounded by fishing equipment.
Ashlee
Silver laurel wreath with elegant leaves, symbolizing victory and achievement.

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