Institut Media Digital Emtek (IMDE) is a private university under EMTEK, offering study programs in digital business, broadcasting, and performing arts.

The institution provides students with access to practical learning environments through its strategic locations at Indosiar and SCTV. This connection to active media operations gives IMDE a distinctive advantage for students interested in television, digital media, performance, and related fields.

However, IMDE was entering the market with a new identity. Previously known as Akademi Televisi Indonesia (ATVI), the institution needed to introduce IMDE clearly to prospective students and explain how its programs, facilities, and learning opportunities differed from other universities.

Between 2023 and 2024, Visual Indomedia Produksi partnered with Suitmedia to develop a fresh, responsive, and informative website. The platform was designed to make IMDE easier to understand, easier to explore, and more appealing to the next generation of students.

A New University Identity Needed a Clearer Digital Introduction

1. IMDE was introducing more than a new name

The transition from Akademi Televisi Indonesia to Institut Media Digital Emtek represented a broader change in how the institution presented itself.

IMDE’s identity covered more than television broadcasting. Its programs included digital business, broadcasting, and performing arts, supported by access to practical environments connected to Indosiar and SCTV.

That broader offering created an opportunity, but it also introduced a communication challenge. People familiar with ATVI might not immediately understand what IMDE represented or how its programs had developed.

The website needed to connect the institution’s history with its new direction. It had to explain that IMDE was not simply a renamed institution, but a university with a wider academic and professional focus.

2. Prospective students needed information before they could consider applying

Choosing a university is a high-involvement decision. Prospective students and their families need to understand the available programs, academic approach, facilities, application process, and future opportunities before they decide whether to make contact.

If this information is incomplete or difficult to find, users may move on to another institution.

For IMDE, the website needed to answer practical questions quickly:

1. What does IMDE offer?
2. Which study programs are available?
3. What will students learn?
4. What facilities and learning environments are provided?
5. How can someone apply?
6. Where can prospective students ask further questions?

The platform needed to support both initial discovery and deeper evaluation.

3. The institution’s strongest differentiator needed to be visible

IMDE’s relationship with Indosiar and SCTV created a practical learning advantage.

Students and lecturers could benefit from exposure to working media environments, giving the institution a connection between academic learning and industry practice.

However, this advantage would not create value if it remained implicit. Prospective students needed to understand how IMDE’s location and media ecosystem could support their education.

The website therefore had to do more than list facilities. It needed to communicate the experience behind them and help visitors see how IMDE could prepare students for fields that combine creativity, technology, media, and performance.

4. The existing website did not fully communicate the opportunity

Before the redesign, the website lacked the clarity and completeness needed to introduce IMDE effectively.

Specific programs and opportunities could be overlooked if menus were incomplete or information was not organized around the questions prospective students had.

This created a risk for both the institution and its audience. IMDE could lose potential applicants, while users could miss programs that were relevant to their ambitions.

The issue was not simply that the website needed more pages. It needed a clearer structure that helped users find the right information at the right time.

5. The website had to feel fresh without losing credibility

IMDE wanted a modern and appealing digital presence aligned with its new corporate branding.

A youthful design could help attract prospective students, but the website still needed to communicate academic credibility and institutional reliability.

The experience had to balance energy and clarity. It should feel relevant to a younger audience without becoming overly playful or difficult to use.

This made the design challenge more nuanced than applying bright colors or visual effects. Every design decision needed to support the institution’s identity and the user’s decision-making process.

Building a Website That Helps Students See Their Future at IMDE

1. We started by understanding the new brand direction

Suitmedia began with research to develop design ideas aligned with IMDE’s brand guidelines.

The purpose was to understand how the institution wanted to be perceived and translate that identity into a digital experience that felt consistent across the website.

The visual direction used vibrant colors to reflect energy, creativity, and the media-oriented character of IMDE.

However, color was not used as a substitute for structure. It was paired with clear layouts and accessible content so that the website could attract attention while remaining easy to understand.

2. We studied leading university websites to improve the structure

Suitmedia benchmarked the websites of leading universities in Indonesia.

The aim was not to copy the appearance of other institutions. It was to understand how successful university websites organize information for prospective students, current students, academics, and other stakeholders.

This research helped identify the menus and content areas IMDE needed to communicate its programs and services more effectively.

Benchmarking was particularly useful because university websites often need to serve several audiences at once. The structure must support recruitment without ignoring academic and institutional information.

3. We organized the website around prospective student questions

The new website was designed to help users move through the information in a more natural sequence.

A prospective student might begin by exploring IMDE’s identity and study programs. They may then want to understand the application process, facilities, learning environment, and contact options.

The website structure was developed to support this progression.

This reduced the need for visitors to search across unrelated pages or interpret internal university terminology. The platform helped users move from general awareness toward more specific consideration.

4. We expanded the menu structure to make information easier to find

The new menu system addressed the limitations of the previous website.

It created clearer destinations for important information about IMDE, its academic programs, application guidance, facilities, and other institutional content.

The purpose was not to create a large number of menu items. It was to ensure that essential information had a logical home.

A well-structured menu also helps internal teams maintain the website. When content categories are clear, new information can be added more consistently and users are less likely to encounter duplicated or misplaced content.

5. We used vibrant design to make the new identity memorable

The visual design used a more vibrant color direction aligned with IMDE’s brand guidelines.

This helped the website feel fresh and distinctive in a competitive education market. Prospective students often compare several institutions online, so the first impression can influence whether they continue exploring.

The color system gave the platform a stronger personality while maintaining readable text and clear information hierarchy.

The design aimed to communicate that IMDE was connected to contemporary media and digital industries, while still presenting itself as a credible academic institution.

6. We added text animations to create a distinctive experience

Text animations were introduced as one of the website’s distinguishing features.

The animations added movement and visual interest, helping the platform feel more contemporary and connected to the creative character of IMDE’s programs.

Their role was not simply decorative. Used carefully, animation can draw attention to key messages and make the interaction feel more dynamic.

The important balance was to ensure that movement supported the content rather than making the website harder to read or navigate.

7. We connected brochures with the academic information system

Informative brochures were integrated with the academic system so users could access more detailed information about study programs, application guidance, facilities, and related topics.

This created a more useful relationship between high-level website content and deeper academic information.

A prospective student could begin with an overview and then access more detailed material when ready to evaluate a program.

The integration also helped reduce information gaps. Users were less likely to rely on incomplete summaries or search for important details on separate platforms.

8. We made program information more useful for decision-making

Study program information needed to do more than announce program names.

Prospective students need to understand what each program involves, what kind of interests it suits, and how it connects to their future ambitions.

The website was designed to make this information easier to access and review. This was especially important for IMDE because its programs covered different but related fields: digital business, broadcasting, and performing arts.

Clear program presentation allowed users to compare their interests with the opportunities offered by the institution.

9. We designed the website to work across devices

A responsive website was essential for reaching prospective students.

Users may discover IMDE through a smartphone, continue browsing on a laptop, or share information through social and messaging platforms. The website needed to remain readable and functional across these contexts.

Responsive design helped ensure that menus, program information, brochures, and contact options remained accessible regardless of screen size.

This also protected the quality of the first impression. A modern design would have limited value if it became difficult to use on mobile devices.

10. We treated contact as an important part of the recruitment journey

The website included a “Contact Us” menu that gave users direct access to IMDE’s contact center.

This feature was important because not every question can be answered through a website. Prospective students may need clarification about programs, admission requirements, facilities, or application steps.

A clear contact path helped users move from online research to direct conversation when necessary.

It also created a feedback channel for IMDE. Questions and inquiries could reveal what prospective students still found unclear, helping the institution improve future content and communication.

11. We designed for both attraction and understanding

The website needed to attract prospective students visually while giving them enough information to make an informed decision.

This required a deliberate relationship between design and content. Vibrant colors and text animations created interest, while structured menus, brochures, and clear program information supported evaluation.

The experience was designed to answer both emotional and practical needs:

• Does IMDE feel like a place where I belong?
• Does IMDE offer the program and environment I need?

A strong university website needs to address both questions.

A Fresher Website Made IMDE Easier to Discover and Consider

1. Prospective students gained clearer access to information

The new website made IMDE’s institutional and academic information easier to find.

Users could explore the university, review study programs, learn about facilities, access application guidance, and contact the institution through a more structured experience.

This reduced the effort required to understand what IMDE offered and how to continue the admission journey.

2. The website better reflected IMDE’s new identity

The fresh design aligned with IMDE’s brand guidelines and presented the institution with a more modern and distinctive appearance.

The visual language supported IMDE’s connection to digital business, broadcasting, performing arts, and the wider EMTEK media ecosystem.

This helped separate IMDE from its previous identity as ATVI while preserving the credibility of the institution’s educational role.

3. The program offering became easier to understand

The improved menu and academic content structure helped users explore IMDE’s study programs more efficiently.

This was important because users may have different interests and levels of familiarity with the fields offered.

A clearer structure made it easier for visitors to identify the program most relevant to their ambitions and continue into more detailed information.

4. Brochures provided additional depth without overloading the main pages

The integration of informative brochures allowed IMDE to provide more detail while keeping the main website experience clear.

Users could move from a concise overview toward deeper information when they needed it.

This created a layered experience that served both casual visitors and prospective students conducting serious research.

5. The website became more engaging without losing usability

Text animations and vibrant visual design gave the platform more energy and helped distinguish it from other university websites.

At the same time, clear navigation and content structure ensured that visual elements did not replace useful information.

The result was a more engaging environment that remained practical for users trying to make an important education decision.

6. The contact center became easier to reach

The “Contact Us” menu received positive feedback from IMDE’s internal team.

It created a direct route for prospective students and other visitors to reach the contact center, supporting faster clarification and more meaningful interaction.

This feature also helped connect the website to the people operating the institution. Digital communication did not end with browsing; users could continue into a real conversation.

7. IMDE gained a stronger recruitment and communication asset

The website became more than an institutional profile.

It supported student attraction, program discovery, application guidance, stakeholder communication, and direct inquiry.

This gave IMDE a stronger foundation for recruitment and public engagement. The institution could present its academic offering more effectively while creating a clearer path for users to take the next step.

8. The platform supported future content development

The improved structure created room for future academic information, events, workshops, student stories, and institutional updates.

As IMDE develops its programs and strengthens its identity, new content can be added within a clearer framework.

This created a lasting operational benefit. The website was better positioned to grow with the institution rather than become outdated as new needs emerged.

9. Internal stakeholders recognized the alignment between design and identity

IMDE’s representative expressed satisfaction with the website’s new menu structure and visual direction.

They noted that the menu addressed the institution’s needs and that the website’s appearance represented IMDE’s persona effectively.

This feedback is significant because a university website must work for both external users and the institution itself. Internal confidence supports consistent use, content updates, and future development.

What IMDE Reveals About University Website Development

1. A rebrand must be explained through the user experience

A new name creates questions. Users need to understand what has changed, what remains, and why the institution is relevant to them.

The website should make the new identity clear through its structure, content, and visual language—not only through a new logo or title.

2. Prospective students need a decision-support platform

University websites should help students decide, not only provide announcements.

Program information, facilities, application guidance, brochures, and contact options should work together to reduce uncertainty throughout the consideration process.

3. Visual freshness should support institutional meaning

Vibrant colors and animations can attract younger audiences, but they must remain connected to the institution’s purpose.

For IMDE, the visual direction worked because it supported the creative and media-oriented character of the university while preserving clarity and credibility.

4. Benchmarking can reveal missing user pathways

Reviewing leading university websites can help identify expected content areas and navigation patterns.

The purpose is not imitation. It is to ensure that users can find the information they reasonably expect when evaluating an institution.

5. Contact access is part of digital experience

A website cannot answer every question, especially during an admissions decision.

A visible and accessible contact option helps users continue their journey when self-service information is not enough. It also gives the institution a way to learn from user needs.

6. Content depth should be layered

Not every visitor needs every detail immediately.

A strong website provides concise information for initial understanding, then offers deeper materials such as brochures or program guides for users who want to evaluate more seriously.

7. Internal content capability protects the investment

A website remains valuable only when the institution can maintain it.

Clear structure and manageable content tools help internal teams keep information current, ensuring that the quality achieved at launch continues over time.

8. Education websites should connect aspiration with evidence

Prospective students want to imagine their future, but they also need proof that the institution can support that future.

IMDE’s website combined visual appeal with information about programs, facilities, application guidance, and practical learning opportunities. This made the institution more compelling and more credible at the same time.

Strategic Insights for the C-Suite

1. Use the website to make a new institutional identity understandable.
   A rebrand is successful when audiences understand what the organization now stands for and why it matters. Design, content, and navigation should explain the change together.
2. Build education platforms around the decisions prospective students must make.
   Students need more than inspiration. They need clear program information, application guidance, evidence of facilities, and direct access to support before they can move forward.
3. Balance youthful design with institutional credibility.
   Vibrant visuals and animation can attract attention, but they must be supported by clear information and predictable navigation. Appeal should open the door; substance should earn trust.
4. Make direct contact part of the digital journey.
   Users will always have questions that content cannot answer. A visible contact route helps convert online interest into meaningful conversation and gives the institution insight into stakeholder needs.
5. Design the platform to grow with the institution.
   New programs, events, academic resources, and student stories will continue to emerge. A clear structure allows the website to expand without becoming difficult to use.