Information architecture, Web copywriting and a style guide for National Grid

Business challenge
Over a period of three years, and in the middle of two corporate mergers, National Grid/USA had to develop and re-design all four of its retail sites– Massachusetts Electric, Granite State Electric, Narragansett Electric, and Nantucket Electric. With no copywriter or information architect on staff, they needed help editing and repurposing print documents, revising and creating text, designing new information structures and redesigning existing ones.

What I did
I was lead writer and information architect on all four redesigns. I conducted numerous site evaluations, working closely with many different stakeholders in Massachusetts, Rhode Island and New Hampshire. With the Webmaster, I designed and wrote a Web style Manual for National Grid’s Electronic Publishing Group.

In later contracts with National Grid/USA, I edited the company’s Five-Year Statement (2001-2005), a technical document of about 100 pages that describes its transmission system. I also designed the structure (IA) and wrote copy for Neescom, a telecommunications subsidiary.

Impact
Much print content was repurposed for the Web, much online content was revised and migrated to the redesigned site structures, and our Web Manual got a lot of positive feedback.

High point: Working with National Grid/USA’s Webmaster to design and write the company’s first Web style manual.

Work samples