Connecting The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) vast communities with an online hub to organise events

ROLES

Web Dashboard
Custom WP Plugins

STACK

WordPress

DATE

2022

Overview

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) is a global community of engineers, researchers, and professionals committed to the development and promotion of geosynthetic solutions. With members spanning across continents, a central online hub is essential to communicate, organise events, and engage their vast network.

In 2022, IGS partnered with Developyn to deliver a complete overhaul of their online presence, aiming to streamline member interactions, simplify event management, and modernise the overall user experience.

The Challenge

The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) had outgrown its legacy website, which was no longer fit for purpose. The site was outdated in both design and infrastructure, making it difficult for members to find information, engage with upcoming events, or connect with each other. More critically, it lacked the backend flexibility needed by IGS administrators to effectively manage their global activities.

Managing events, which are core to IGS’s mission, was especially inefficient. Admins had to manually update listings, track attendance, and monitor which events were active or expired. Without automation in place, the risk of miscommunication was high, and members often encountered confusion or missed out on key opportunities to participate.

To evolve into a more connected and modern organisation, IGS needed a platform that could meet the needs of both global administrators and everyday users streamlining event management and enhancing accessibility.

Key issues included:

A disjointed event system that lacked automation
Confusing user journeys for members trying to find or register for events
A non-responsive design that didn’t reflect the professionalism or reach of the society
Difficulty for administrators to manage and publish updates effectively

Our Solution

Developyn worked in close collaboration with the IGS team to plan and design a completely new web platform tailored to the organisation’s structure and goals. The project began with decommissioning the existing website to avoid any confusion for members and to ensure a clean, uninterrupted transition.

Our team spent time with The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) stakeholders to fully understand their operational needs and translated those into a set of design and functional requirements. The result was a custom-built website with a clean, modern design and a fully integrated event management system. This system gave IGS administrators the ability to create, publish, and manage events directly through the dashboard, without the need for technical assistance.

To enhance user experience, we introduced automation features such as dynamic status indicators for events. For example, once an event is concluded, the system would automatically mark it as “past” and update its appearance to avoid accidental registrations. These seemingly small but impactful enhancements significantly improved clarity for members and reduced administrative effort behind the scenes.

Site Migration & Legacy Shutdown

Fully decommissioned the old website to avoid confusion and redirect users to the new platform
Ensured no loss of content or access during the transition

Collaborative Website Redesign

Worked closely with The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) stakeholders through a series of collaborative design sessions
Delivered a fresh, clean interface that reflects the IGS brand and scientific credibility
Fully mobile-responsive and accessible across devices

Integrated Event Management System

We built a flexible event management system that allows IGS admins to:

Create and publish events
Organise ticketing and attendee registration
Filter and display events by region, topic, or date

Automation & Usability Features

Added smart automation to reduce admin workload and improve clarity for users:

Past events automatically marked in a different colour and marked as closed
Visitors are prevented from registering for completed events
Real-time updates for upcoming activities and society news

Results

Since launch, the new The International Geosynthetics Society (IGS) website has become a true digital hub for the organisation. Members now benefit from a vastly improved user experience, with clear navigation, responsive layouts, and real-time access to events and resources. For IGS administrators, the new platform has simplified day-to-day operations, making it easier to engage with a global membership base and maintain a high standard of communication.

Perhaps most importantly, the website has laid the groundwork for future growth. With a flexible backend and scalable infrastructure, IGS is now better positioned to adapt to the evolving needs of its community whether that’s adding new features, supporting more chapters, or expanding into new digital initiatives.

A centralised, professional platform for a global audience
Improved visibility and management of international events
Better engagement from members, with easier access to relevant information
Reduced admin overhead through automation
A modern online identity aligned with the society’s global impact and mission

Conclusion

By collaborating with IGS, Developyn helped bring a global scientific community closer together digitally. The new website now acts as a living hub for event coordination, professional engagement, and society-wide communication, ensuring IGS is better equipped to serve its mission in the digital era.

From Our Team

“This project was all about creating clarity and accessibility. We wanted to give IGS the tools to manage global events with ease and offer their members a reliable and intuitive digital hub.” – Melvyn Matthews, CEO, Developyn