Creative United’s Take it away programme exists to inspire and empower people to make music. By offering interest-free finance, it helps musicians purchase instruments, tuition, equipment, and software – removing barriers to participation and enabling more people to enjoy the benefits of music-making.
Collaborative scoping and design
Our team was commissioned to redevelop the Take it away website, with a focus on accessibility, performance, and ease of use for both the programme’s audiences and administrators.We began with a scoping workshop to gain a deep understanding of the programme’s objectives and audience needs. From there, we moved through an iterative design process – from wireframes, to prototyping, to visual design – applying Take it away’s branding in a way that balances clarity and creativity.The new site was developed in WordPress to provide a cost-effective, extensible, and future-proof platform. Key features include:
- Retailer search – an intuitive search and filter tool to help users find retailers by name, postcode, instrument, or accessibility options, with results displayed in both list and map formats.
- Accessible instruments hub – information and enquiry forms connecting users with adaptive instruments and retailers who can meet specific accessibility needs.
- News and stories – a flexible publishing area for updates, features, and success stories.
- Analytics and optimisation – event tracking, UTM parameters, and reporting to give the Take it away team insights into user behaviour and retailer engagement.
- SEO and performance – SEO tools, clear URL structures, sitemaps, and 301 redirects to optimise visibility and ensure a smooth migration from the old site.
Accessibility as a priority
Accessibility was central to this project. We developed the site to meet WCAG 2.2 AA criteria as a minimum, and wherever possible exceeded these standards. Features such as clear navigation, semantic structuring, strong colour contrast, and breadcrumb trails were implemented to ensure the site is inclusive and easy to use for all audiences. An accessibility statement was also included, making Creative United’s ongoing commitment transparent.The new Take it away website is a robust, user-friendly platform that reflects the programme’s mission to make music accessible to everyone. It empowers users to explore retailers and instruments with ease, while giving the Creative United team the tools and insights they need to evolve the programme in future.
