Wells Fargo History Site

Bringing the past into the future.

Challenge
The current history website was outdated and not meeting its full engagement potential. Only a few pages deep, it wasn't built to handle the vast collection of media and content that Wells Fargo needed to be freed from the archives and one of a dozen museum locations.

The Brief
Showcase Wells Fargo’s deep and rich history in a fresh new way.
• Bring our history forward from 19th century to share innovation across time
• Share our customer contributions to broader changes in society across time
• Work to promote museum visits, upcoming events and programs
• Where possible it should allow for a deeper experience beyond our permanent and/or temporary physical exhibit

We’ve evolved, and while our existing content does a good job of telling our stories of the past we also need to highlight our progress in innovation and our look toward the future.

The new site experience should deliver on the new value proposition:

Our History of Next

With Wells Fargo, I’m a part of a larger story of positive momentum. Through every era and every generation, our shared history is about resilience, resourcefulness, and always getting better. By connecting with stories of optimism and innovation, I’m empowered by a history of creating what’s next.

Idea
We created a fresh look and feel that centered on mobile. Working with museum archivists we selected and digitized objects and ephemera, and served it all up Pinterest-style. Visitors can interact with stories of innovation via an interactive timeline. After nearly 160 years, Wells Fargo history was living an breathing in the 21st century.

Before

After

Results
3X engagement the first month and an increase in museum location visits nationwide.

Role
Content lead, concept development, strategy, wire framing, user experience, interaction design

Design partner/UX Lead
Sarah Buzcek

As soon as I was hired at Wells Fargo, I quickly started amassing a collection with everything from a 1888 dated check to a detailed stage coach replica. Colleagues referred to my cubicle as 'the museum'. So when the kickoff invite hit my inbox, the historian inside me was ecstatic.