Oregon Symphony

With over 125 years of history, Oregon Symphony is the oldest orchestra west of the Mississippi, but its legacy is anything but traditional. As its artistic vision evolved, so did its need for a cohesive digital experience. We partnered together to modernize the Symphony’s web presence with an identity uniquely rooted in Portland’s culture and creativity. In tandem, we built a new website and ticketing platform designed to capture more ticket sales, subscriptions and self-service renewals to drive long-term strategic growth.

Music for All

Live music is a powerful, shared experience. In the fabric of an open-minded, forward-thinking city, Oregon Symphony is relentlessly dedicated to fostering community and creating space for those experiences. Led by visionary conductors and world-class musicians, our new identity sheds the traditional formality of classical music, offering a more welcoming, human orchestral experience.

Typography design refinement diagram showing 'OREGON SYMPHONY' text in dark gray on black background. Three technical annotations highlight specific typographic improvements on individual letters: added corner radius to the bottom cap of the R, refined geometric forms to the curve of the G, and added ink traps in letter intersections to inside point of the M.

Typographic specimen displaying multiple lines of white text on black background, featuring a mix of font weights and musical terminology. Text includes classical composer names, musical terms, and technical specifications arranged in a grid-like format.

Bridgetown

The Willamette River divides Portland, with 12 bridges connecting its two sides, earning the city its “Bridgetown” nickname. These iconic structures frame our imagery, serving as a familiar nod for locals and a welcoming symbol for newcomers. Just as the bridges create structure, the conductor’s rhythmic movements bring movement and energy to the brand. Infused with the hues of Oregon’s natural landscapes, these elements weave a cohesive visual and experiential thread—whether online, in print, or out-of-home.

Creating a Robust & Responsive Site

A compelling digital presence sets the stage for how audiences experience the Symphony before they ever step into the concert hall. To support this, we built a dynamic web system that enriches storytelling and personalization. Instead of relying on resource-heavy data requests for personalized content, the site uses pre-rendered JSON ‘blobs’ that enable faster rendering. This ensures that returning visitors receive relevant, engaging experiences without sacrificing performance.

An iPad displaying the Oregon Symphony's website homepage, featuring a dark green background with bright green text reading 'Find Joy in the Harmony of Timeless Music.' The page includes a 'Buy Tickets' button and is complemented by an artistic image of a piano with overlaid geometric green lines. The tablet is being held by hands visible at the bottom edges of the frame.

Oregon Symphony website homepage. Features a dark background with orchestral instruments and green text reading 'FIND JOY IN THE HARMONY OF TIMELESS MUSIC.' Navigation menu and upcoming concerts section visible, with a prominent 'Buy Tickets' button. The design uses a dark green and black color scheme with white accents. A semi transparent grid is overlaid on the image to show the design of the grid system.

Oregon Symphony calendar event listing page featuring upcoming performances. The page includes a calendar interface and filters on the left. Each event displays multiple show dates, times, and venue information, with 'Tickets & Info' buttons.

Three-panel donation section for Oregon Symphony. Each panel features a minimalist green line icon against a dynamic, blurred green background. The panels show donation options: 'Donate Online' with a top hat icon and donate button, 'Give by Mail' with an envelope icon and mailing address, and 'Or by Phone' with a phone icon and contact number 503-416-6325. The design emphasizes multiple convenient ways to support the symphony.

A promotional image for the concert season. On the left, a performer sings passionately into a microphone while wearing a khaki jacket and in-ear monitors. On the right, white text announces 'Choose Your Own Series' with details about classical and contemporary music offerings.

Two promotional cards for the Oregon Symphony. The top card, on a burgundy background, features 'First-Time Symphony Secrets' with information for newcomers. The bottom card, on an olive background, promotes 'Share the Power of Music' with donation information. Both cards feature artistic motion-blur photography with elegant golden curved lines and include 'READ MORE' buttons. The design is modern and sophisticated with high contrast text and flowing visual elements.

A hand holds an iPhone displaying the Oregon Symphony website against a burgundy background. The screen shows a promotional design with golden text reading 'A BOLD FUSION OF POWER AND SOUND' above a close-up photograph of a bright smile. A 'Buy Tickets' button is visible below the text.

Purchase Path of Least Resistance

Seamless ticketing is essential for arts organizations, directly impacting both revenue and audience engagement. A new site without an improved checkout flow neglects one of the Symphony’s critical needs, so we custom-built a ticketing platform to simplify transactions and reduce cart abandonment, ensuring a smoother path from browsing to purchase. The new checkout experience frees the Symphony from its technical debt, reducing reliance on outdated, industry-specific software.