Notre-Dame International High School, A Global Digital Identity for a World-Class Institution

Notre-Dame International High School (NDIHS) is a prestigious bilingual American international school located in the greater Paris region, France. Known for its commitment to academic excellence and cultural diversity, NDIHS blends the American high school curriculum with the rich educational traditions of France, welcoming students from more than twenty nationalities. Our team partnered directly with NDIHS to design and develop a brand-new website from scratch, A digital platform that reflects the school’s global reputation, bilingual spirit, and commitment to excellence. We handled every stage of the project, from UX research and visual design to content strategy, full-stack development, and SEO optimization, ensuring the school’s digital presence matched the sophistication and warmth of its academic environment. The result was a fully responsive, bilingual website that not only elevates the school’s brand but also streamlines communication with students, parents, and international admissions partners across the globe.

Challenges

Before our collaboration, NDIHS’s existing website no longer aligned with the school’s international stature. It lacked a cohesive structure, modern visual appeal, and multilingual functionality, key requirements for a global audience. Important information such as admissions details, academic programs, and cultural experiences were difficult to navigate. The site was also not optimized for mobile users, resulting in inconsistent accessibility for international families exploring the school from different regions and devices. Additionally, there were no effective lead capture or automation systems, making it challenging for the admissions team to manage inquiries efficiently. The goal was clear: to build a modern, bilingual, user-friendly, and high-performing website from the ground up that could communicate NDIHS’s story, support its admissions process, and enhance its global visibility.

Approach

We approached this project as both a design and storytelling challenge, to translate the essence of NDIHS’s multicultural education into a digital experience.

  1. 1. Discovery and Strategy

       We began with detailed workshops and stakeholder interviews to understand the school’s values, communication goals, and audience personas such as students, parents, and international agents. From these insights, we developed a comprehensive information architecture that structured content around the academic journey, campus life, and admissions process.

  2. 2. UX and Content Architecture

       We crafted a clear, bilingual navigation system that made information easily accessible. Each page was designed with purpose from highlighting student life and global programs to simplifying steps for admission and contact.

  3. 3. Visual and Technical Design

       Our design direction focused on elegance, inclusivity, and clarity. Inspired by Parisian heritage and the school’s academic prestige, we used a refined color palette, strong typography, and authentic photography that reflected real student experiences.

On the technical side, we built the website using a fully responsive, CMS-driven architecture that allows administrators to manage content, update programs, and publish announcements independently. We optimized for speed, accessibility, and SEO, ensuring the site performs seamlessly across devices and search engines.

Key Deliverables

  1. A fully redesigned and developed website in many languages.
  2. A modern and responsive UX/UI design reflecting NDIHS’s academic prestige.
  3. Optimized admissions flow with inquiry capture.
  4. SEO-driven content and metadata structure for international visibility.
  5. A custom CMS enabling easy updates, program management, and announcements.

Impact and Results

After the launch, the new NDIHS website achieved remarkable results:

  1. Increase in organic traffic due to improved SEO and international search visibility.
  2. Rise in admissions inquiries, supported by clear CTAs and lead automation.
  3. A significant boost in engagement from international audiences accessing bilingual content.
  4. Positive feedback from parents and partners praising the ease of navigation and aesthetic appeal.

The school’s staff reported substantial time savings in content management, with the CMS empowering them to make real-time updates and announcements without technical dependencies. Beyond numbers, the new site helped position NDIHS as a truly global educational institution, blending academic credibility with cultural accessibility.

“Creating a global digital identity requires cultural awareness, strategic design, and technical precision. Through our collaboration with Notre-Dame International High School, we built a platform that unites academic excellence with international accessibility, empowering the institution to connect, engage, and inspire learners worldwide.”

Conclusion

This project exemplifies how thoughtful design, technical excellence, and cultural sensitivity can create meaningful digital transformation in education. By developing the Notre-Dame International High School website from the ground up, our team delivered not just a platform but a digital identity that communicates the school’s mission, celebrates its diversity, and connects learners from around the world. The NDIHS website now stands as a global gateway for students and families, embodying the school’s promise of excellence, inclusion, and international collaboration.