IDEA, formerly known as The Great Plains Interactive Distance Education Alliance (Great Plains IDEA), is a consortium of renowned public universities from across the United States. It offers online, flexible, and affordable degree and certificate programs in a range of subjects, including human services and agriculture. Their mission is to serve learners by offering online, flexible, affordable instruction for a virtual community of individuals from diverse backgrounds. IDEA offers educational freedom, fostering rewarding pathways for lifelong learning, career advancement, and community growth in an ever-evolving society.
CUSTOM WEB & APP DEVELOPMENT
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IDEA's solution is a fully integrated, data-driven hub that serves as the central point for students, faculty, and administrators. Beyond its modern, student-focused interface, we developed a custom application designed to keep IDEA’s content accurate, timely, and scalable.
Built with a secure, API-driven framework, the application connects to the university’s internal systems through ExpanSIS. This integration enables seamless synchronization of course catalogs, degree programs, faculty profiles, and semester-based course planner updates. When new programs are launched, courses are modified, or instructors join the faculty, the site updates automatically — eliminating manual data entry and reducing the risk of outdated information.
The system supports multiple user groups with different needs:
- Faculty and instructors can submit new or updated course information quickly and confidently.
- Administrators can review, approve, and manage course and program data to ensure accuracy and compliance.
- Students benefit from always having the most up-to-date information when planning their schedules or exploring degree options.
The platform is built to handle large volumes of data and seasonal traffic with ease, while maintaining secure access and a clear approval process so that updates are accurate before going live.
Together, IDEA’s website and custom application modules create a seamless, future-ready solution that saves administrative time, improves accuracy, and gives every user — from faculty to students — a smooth, reliable experience for continued higher education.
SUPPLEMENTAL MARKETING SERVICES
LOGO DESIGN & BRANDING
After decades in operation, IDEA launched a full rebrand to modernize its identity for the digital age. The refreshed logo and color palette were designed to better reflect the consortium’s renewed vision while maintaining continuity with its legacy. The familiar blues and greens were retained but brightened and lightened to create a fresher, more approachable look.
GRAPHIC DESIGN
To complete the rebrand, we redesigned IDEA’s print and digital materials with updated layouts that reflect the new brand identity. A key focus was curating and swapping imagery to represent IDEA’s target audience best, ensuring every piece feels relevant and aligned with their mission.
VIDEO PRODUCTION
As part of the rebrand rollout, IDEA’s video presence was transformed to reflect its renewed identity and mission. The flagship animated video was reimagined with updated visuals and voiceover, creating a fresh and engaging introduction to the consortium. We produced 15 new student and staff testimonial videos that showcase the value of IDEA’s programs and their impact on students and national campuses. Existing testimonial videos were refreshed with the updated branding, and a compelling brand alliance video was developed to inspire universities, faculty, and staff to connect with IDEA.
