National Archives of Ireland Website

The National Archives of Ireland serves as one of the country’s most important cultural and civic institutions, safeguarding the documentary heritage of the State and providing public access to centuries of historical, legal, and genealogical records. As the volume and complexity of digital collections grew and public expectations for accessible online services continued to rise, the National Archives sought a complete redesign of its website. 

The goal was to create a platform that is contemporary, intuitive, and robust enough to serve researchers, policymakers, students, genealogists, and the general public, while maintaining the authority expected of a national institution.

The website was reimagined from the ground up, establishing an architecture that brings structure and clarity to an extensive and diverse body of records. The new design balances contemporary digital usability with the dignity and composure expected of a state archive. The design of the website was based on the existing brand guidelines for the Government of Ireland and built around the official Government font, Lato.

A central objective of the National Archives, as well as being the keeper of the nation's records, is one of public engagement and encouraging citizens to interact with the Archives. The Collections, which are rich collections of interconnected historical documents, were identified as a more accessible route into the Archives for first time visitors. 

A concept was developed whereby images of notable individuals from Irish history were combined with relevant documents from the Archives to create engaging collages which personalise the records and bring to life the stories and lives contained within.

The structure of the website takes its cues from the everyday materials found throughout the physical Archives. Boxy form fields on Order Dockets, tables of information, opened ledgers, binders with all-caps labels, double- and triple-ruled pages; all of these charming elements are reflected in the design of the website, connecting the digital experience to the physical.

The design system was engineered to scale with the institution’s future needs. This includes a modular component library to support evolving content and collections; templates for exhibitions, educational materials and media-rich storytelling; and a robust and well-built WordPress back-end to ensure consistency of content. This foundation ensures the National Archives can continue to expand its digital footprint while maintaining clarity and consistency.