Video description: A laptop shows a montage of visitors in different spaces at the Princeton University Art Museum. The text on the screens says "Free to All. Now Open to All."
Princeton University Art Museum
The Princeton University Art Museum partnered with Bluecadet to create a digital experience as bold, inclusive, and forward-looking as its new building designed by David Adjaye. The website needed to reflect the museum’s bold design and architectural ambition while also serving a diverse and intellectually-curious community of students, scholars, and the public. Our goal was to design a site that matches the spirit of the new museum: open, connective, and built for engagement.
Making a strong first impression
Just like the building itself, the website invites exploration from every direction, with dynamic, accessible entry points that reflect Princeton’s dual commitment to scholarly rigor and public accessibility. The homepage sets the tone with an immersive arrival moment that introduces the Museum as a cultural and academic hub: a place that’s welcoming, active, and open to all.
As you scroll down, the homepage continues to foreground current exhibitions, public programs, and accessible entry points to art, capturing the Museum’s role as a place where ideas and people converge.
Extending the new brand online
Working closely with the visual identity developed by the agency 2x4, we translated the new brand into a digital language. Bold crops of artwork create immediacy and intrigue. Refined typography and a confident color palette guide users without overwhelming the art, striking a balance between clarity and sophistication.
A robust collection search
The new website offers powerful ways to explore the collection of over 117,000 works, designed and built in close collaboration with the Museum’s development team. Visitors can dive in through a user-friendly collection search that includes helpful suggestions, smart filters like year, culture, and place made, and even a “surprise me” feature to spark discovery.
For scholars and researchers, an advanced search tool enables granular queries across specific fields, with support for Boolean logic to surface precise results. The design presents a complete set of choices without overwhelming users, making exploration intuitive for all levels of curiosity.
Helping users discover art
The site’s design encourages self-directed exploration. Curated themes such as "Celebrating Women Artists" or "Wood Against the Grain" offer approachable entry points into the collection, grouping objects in thoughtful ways and providing helpful context. Many artworks also include related objects, videos, or articles, which support continued discovery and invite visitors to follow their curiosity across 50,000 years of art.
Users first
Optimized for mobile as well as desktop, the site was designed to be intuitive and accessible from any device. A reorganized information architecture, clear navigation, and inclusive language make it easy for all audiences to explore. Consistent breadcrumbs, exposed second-level menus, and user-tested pathways ensure visitors never feel lost. Every detail reflects the Princeton University Art Museum’s commitment to transparency, access, and the transformative power of art.
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Video description: A laptop showing a scrolling view of the Buffalo AKG Museum website, displaying videos and sections for Current and Upcoming Exhibitions, Upcoming Events, and more.
Video description: A laptop displaying a scrolling view of the new MCA website, showcasing the new design and content features.