The Smith-Gilbert Gardens is a non-profit foundation focused on conservation, education, art, and historical preservation. The gardens are a beloved landmark to those who find enjoyment in nature; they benefit the community in a multitude of ways.

_{Photo courtesy of Smith Gilbert Gardens}

The gardens are rich in the art and history it holds; Smith-Gilbert gives artists many chances to be discovered and have their art held and preserved for many to see. When our group visited the gardens, we saw a plethora of statues and installments from as early as 1990. Not only that, but they also have an event called “Art Bloom”, a two-month long event that encourages creativity by holding workshops, performance, and temporary art installations. 

Smith-Gilbert encourages parents to bring their children to the gardens so that they can learn about the world around them. There are programs such as ‘Little Sprouts’ and ‘Homeschool Day’ focused on getting kids excited to learn. They accommodate for school field trips offering different packets/tours depending on the class grade. There are also many beloved attractions such as the butterfly exhibit, the koi pond, and the imagination station; each providing a varied way that children can experience the gardens and what they have to offer.

_{Photo by @smithgilbertga on Instagram}

When the season is apt, there are even honeybees that can be interacted with under supervision; giving the community’s bug enjoyers a time to be around one of our most cherished little companions. Harvest Gathering is a fall sit-down at the gardens, allowing for children and community members alike to come together and find a sense of togetherness. Santa’s Garden Party is a Christmas event hosted at the garden allowing for the community to provide children a connection to their more whimsical and young natures while being surrounded by the beauty the gardens provide. 

All of these seasonal events let the community experience the gardens year-round with a varied experience, allowing the garden to be a staple of the area without being limited by the date.

Vision Statement

_{Smith Gilbert Gardens needs to refocus on consistency, branding, and community engagement across all platforms. Social media content should serve to advance the organizational goals of the non-profit, converting followers to visitors, volunteers, or donors. Design decisions between social posts and web content are made with accessibility and reach in mind.}

_{Photo by @smithgilbertga on Instagram}

The Issue:

With all the good they do, their online presence doesn’t garner as much attraction and engagement as it deserves, which might be affecting how many people interact with them as a whole.

• The pictures that are posted on either their socials or website, at times do not reflect what the gardens actually look like. When our group visited the gardens, we observed how overgrown everything looked. There are reviews online that share the same sentiment and share disappointment in their expectations with the gardens.   

• Content posted isn’t as engaging as it could be. Their posts have amazing photos however lack graphics and necessary information needed on platforms such as Instagram, which isn’t optimal, as Instagram is a photo-based social platform. Therefore, posting media without any information in said media will lead to possible/current followers to accidentally ignore their posts.

• Their website is not as put together as it can be. Architecture of information matters; without it, users will grow frustrated in attempting to find the information they need. There needs to be a prioritization of information and a simplification of the number of pages used to hold the information of certain topics.

Why It Matters:

An unkempt online presence reflects on the gardens themselves. Being unable to maintain their digital presence decreases the credibility of the garden itself, which increases frustration of its visitors, and makes the brand look unprofessional. As a nonprofit, Smith-Gilbert relies on donations, volunteers, and continued interest in the foundation, so by improving their online presence they can meet their goals with much more ease.

What Has Our Team Done to Help?

_{Photo by @smithgilbertga on Instagram}