    Project name
health@mit newsletter and website
http://web.mit.edu/medical/hmlist.htm
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Background and goals
MIT Medical approached PSB with the goal of redesigning its newsletter, health@mit, as well as its related website. The existing newsletter was a standard 8 1/2" x 11" size printed in black with one accent color. The goal was that the redesigned newsletter and website should have a distinctive look, yet fit into MIT Medical's trademark "look and feel" and complement existing publications and the department's website. In addition, the client wanted to increase readership through these efforts.
The PSB role
PSB and Web Communications Services (WCS) advisors showed the client the portfolios of several graphic designers who could produce a fresh and exciting design for this widely read publication. The client narrowed down the selection to a handful of designers. PSB and WCS then prepared and distributed a request for proposal (RFP). After evaluating the resulting proposals, the client chose a designer based on style, experience, and cost. The selected web programmer had worked on numerous MIT projects. PSB reviewed designs with the client and, once they selected a design direction, solicited bids from three area printers and obtained paper samples for the client and designer to review. The client awarded the job to the low bidder, a printer with whom they had an established relationship. WCS advised on modifying the print design to a web format and assisted in ensuring that the site complied with MIT's accessibility guidelines.
Results
The designer increased the size of the newsletter to 8 1/2" x 14", used ink colors that were also part of MIT Medical's established palette, and used large, visually interesting photographs, making the newsletter stand out among the many other publications people receive. An illustrator gave Lucy, star of the newsletter's popular column "Ask Lucy," a makeover to bring her into the 21st century. The website reflects the print design and features clear navigation, with a link to the main MIT Medical site to reinforce the department's identity.
The redesigned newsletter is distributed several times a year to the MIT community and to members of the MIT Health Plan.
Vendor team
Design: Hecht Design
Illustration: Robert Brinkerhoff
Printing: Arlington Lithograph
Programming: Robert J. Wilt
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