From concept to reality: The website for FTI Hasselt

Web design and development|Performance Marketing

31 January 2025

The client

Name : G-STIC / VITO
Sector: B2B – B2C
Sector : Innovation and Technology
Location: Flanders

G-STIC, the organization behind the FTI Festival in Hasselt, was founded by VITO, an independent Flemish research institution specializing in cleantech and sustainable development. Through the Global Sustainable Technology and Innovation Community (G-STIC), they bring together more than 30,000 stakeholders worldwide to accelerate the implementation of integrated technological solutions that contribute to the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

At VITO, technological and innovative solutions are developed daily to support the transition to a sustainable society.

The ambition of the FTI Festival to position Flanders as a leading region in sustainability, innovation, and technology aligns perfectly with VITO’s mission. The FTI Festival is an important initiative by G-STIC, bringing together professionals, academics, policymakers, and the general public to discuss the latest trends in technology and innovation.

The assignment

Develop a website that would become the beating heart of the FTI Festival in Hasselt, from March 16 to 21, 2024. More than just a static information source, the website needed to be a dynamic platform with various functionalities:

Festival Promotion: The website had to attract potential visitors and get them excited about the festival. The goal was 15,000 participants.

Registration: Participants, sponsors, and the press had to be able to register easily online.

Information: Clear and detailed information about the activities, speakers, themes, and practical details of the festival was crucial.

Content Creation: The website needed to be a source of valuable content, with news articles and information about technological advancements and innovation.

Engaging Visitors: Interaction was key: the website had to engage visitors with the FTI initiative and encourage them to participate in activities.

The challenge

The development of the website for FTI Hasselt came with several challenges:

Tight Deadline: We had to deliver a first version of the website in just 3 months. This required efficient planning and project execution.
Complex Information Architecture: The website needed to structure and present a large amount of information on various themes, activities, and speakers in a user-friendly and intuitive way.
Responsive Design: The website had to work seamlessly across all devices, from desktops to smartphones. This required a well-thought-out design and development approach.
Content Management: We had to regularly update a large amount of textual and visual content about the activities, as well as add new activities. This required close collaboration with the client.
Continuity: The website needed to be continuously updated with new information and content after launch.
Coordination: The project required efficient coordination between different stakeholders, including G-STIC, the development team, and external partners.

Approach

A Strong Start with a Teaser Campaign

We began by creating a teaser campaign focused on Hasselt. The campaign included a landing page that provided a sneak peek of the festival, with unique branding that perfectly reflected the identity of FTI Hasselt.

Thoughtful Analysis and Planning

We took the time to understand the different customer journeys and mapped out the desired pages and functionalities. We also looked into the possibilities of integrating with the existing CRM and ticketing system.

Focus on What Really Matters

Based on our analysis, we created a project plan with priorities. We knew that completing the entire website within 3 months was not feasible, so we chose the Growth Driven Design method, focused on continuous optimization.
Growth Driven Design is an iterative web design and development approach. Instead of launching a full website all at once, we focus on the essentials: a Minimum Viable Product (MVP) with the crucial features and functionalities.

Curious about how this approach works?
Download our development framework and discover how we build successful websites.

A User-Friendly Website on Any Device

We designed 25 unique templates for different pages, focusing on optimal user experience across both desktop and mobile devices. We worked closely with the FTI Hasselt team to create a consistent and visually appealing website.

Visual Language as the Key to the Right Look and Feel

We carefully selected images that perfectly matched the website’s look and feel, as well as the identity of FTI Hasselt. We continuously consulted with the FTI Hasselt team to make the right choices.

Flexibility with WordPress

We chose to build the website in WordPress, using the powerful page builder Elementor. This gave us the flexibility to add new pages and manage content, while allowing FTI Hasselt to easily update the website themselves.

Support When Needed

We provided extra support with inputting content and images, allowing G-STIC to focus on gathering information and writing text. This ensured a smooth delivery and timely launch of the website.

Transparent Communication and Flexible Planning

We ensured clear and transparent communication with all stakeholders and worked with a flexible plan that made deadlines achievable.

The Result

A website that exceeded expectations

After an intensive collaboration with the G-STIC team, we are proud to say that we have created a website that exceeded all expectations.

A Strong Online Identity for FTI Hasselt

The website is more than just a simple information source. It is a powerful online identity for FTI Hasselt, reflecting the organization’s vision and values.

A User-Friendly and Visually Appealing Experience

The website is user-friendly and visually appealing, with a thoughtful user experience that seamlessly guides visitors through the content.

A Platform for Interaction and Inspiration

The website is more than just a static brochure. It is a dynamic platform that informs, engages, and inspires visitors.

Measurable Results

The website has led to measurable outcomes:

Increased Visibility: The website moved from an invisible position to a respectable third place in search results.
Rising Visitor Numbers: We saw significant growth in website traffic, with a peak of 1,200 visitors per day in March.
Increase in Organic Traffic: The number of pages found organically has risen.
Higher Engagement: The website achieved a total of 77,000 page views between November and March, with an average engagement time of 2 minutes per visit.
Improved Keyword Positions: We saw an improvement in positions for relevant keywords, further boosting visibility.

These results demonstrate that the website has made a strong start and is performing well on key metrics.

Organically found pages