Building a Platform for Trauma Innovation
How 118Group helped The Stepping Strong Center reimagine its digital presence as a living hub for research, education, and advocacy.
Project Details.
Services Provided.
Digital Strategy & Discovery
Website Design & Development
Information Architecture
Content Strategy & UX Writing
Accessibility & Compliance Design
Data Visualization & Storytelling Framework
Staff Training
Governance Documentation
The Client.
The Stepping Strong Center for Trauma Innovation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital transforms tragedy into progress. Founded after the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, the Center funds groundbreaking trauma research, trains clinicians and the public in emergency response, and advocates for a more informed, trauma-ready world.
Over a decade of growth brought national recognition, multiple grant and fellowship programs, and a vibrant education platform. But its digital home hadn’t kept pace with its expanding mission.
The Challenge.
The Center’s previous website was rich with content but lacked cohesion. Years of additions and department-specific updates had resulted in:
- Fragmented navigation built around internal “pillar” terminology rather than public understanding.
- Duplicate or buried content, making it difficult for users to find clear pathways to education, research, or advocacy programs.
- Limited flexibility for internal staff to update or launch new initiatives without technical support.
- Institutional constraints, balancing Mass General Brigham brand guidelines with the Center’s need for its own distinctive identity.
The result was a site that represented the Center’s depth but not its clarity — a challenge 118Group set out to solve.
We had so much incredible work happening — research, education, advocacy — but it was all buried. Visitors couldn’t see the scope of what we do or how it fits together.”
Our Focus.
From the outset, 118Group’s goal was to design a digital framework that could tell a complex story simply — giving researchers, clinicians, and the public a clear way to understand and engage with trauma innovation.
The team centered the project around three objectives:
Clarify the Center’s structure and mission.
Rebuild navigation around user-friendly pathways — Research, Education, Advocacy, and Get Involved — rather than internal pillars.
Empower staff to manage and evolve the site.
Deliver a modular WordPress system where new programs, awards, and events could be launched without code support.
Make trauma research visible and relatable.
Translate data into compelling visuals and narratives that connect the science of trauma care to human impact.
The Highlights.
Clearer Paths for Every Visitor
The new website makes it easy for anyone to find what they’re looking for. The “Our Work” section introduces the Center’s three main areas — Research, Education, and Advocacy — in plain language, while the “Get Involved” section gathers all the ways people can take part, from trainings to events to giving.
Everything is organized the way visitors naturally think, so the site feels intuitive from the very first click.
Modular Design for a Living Organization
Reusable components allow staff to easily create new fellowship pages, add symposiums, or refresh program content. Templates were built for every major content type — from research case studies to public trainings — ensuring consistency and long-term maintainability.
Storytelling That Educates
A new “Why Trauma?” section combines infographics, comparative statistics, and plain-language definitions to contextualize the Center’s mission. Visitors can now understand that trauma is both the leading cause of death for ages 1–44 and one of the most underfunded areas of medical research.
Collaborative Co-Creation
The project brought together program directors, communications leads, and funders through an iterative, transparent process. From word choice (“Get Involved” vs. “Join Our Community”) to navigation hierarchy, decisions were made through consensus — balancing institutional precision with public accessibility.
Key Outcomes.
By clearly defining our focus for the project, we were able to deliver transformation outcomes for our client across a few key areas.
A Clearer Path to Understanding Trauma
Visitors can now easily see how the Center’s programs connect — from research grants and fellowships to education, advocacy, and events — reducing confusion and reinforcing a single, cohesive mission.
Institutional Alignment + Brand Independence
The redesign honors Brigham and Women’s Hospital visual standards while giving Stepping Strong its own identity through color, photography, and narrative voice.
Empowered Staff, Scalable Framework
Internal teams can update pages, add data visuals, and manage events independently — creating a self-sustaining digital environment.
A Platform Built to Grow
With modular templates and flexible navigation, the new site can expand organically as the Center’s research portfolio, educational programs, and advocacy efforts evolve.
We’re thrilled with our organization’s brand new website completed by 118Group. The team was absolutely wonderful to work with from start to finish. They effortlessly brought our entire wishlist to life, taking the time to understand our needs and thoughtfully incorporate every detail into a beautiful, modern website with a significantly enhanced user experience. Since its recent launch, our website has already generated positive reviews from our stakeholders.”
Interested in Results Like These?
Let’s talk about how we can help your organization improve service access, user trust, and internal capacity.
