This presentation for WP Campus walked through the construction and evolution of the Fulton Forge Student Research Expo archive. The site’s origin was a static print publication that had outlived its usefulness. The transformation resulted in a dynamic, searchable WordPress-powered event archive capable of telling deeper and more connected stories about student research.

WPCampus 2024, Washington, D.C.
August 1, 2024

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Summary

From keepsake to living archive

The original print publication was a meaningful memento for students and donors, but it was not driving attendance, engagement, or long-term visibility. Moving to the web allowed the content to become more than a snapshot in time. It became a searchable archive that showcases student research throughout the year.

Designing the right data model

Instead of forcing everything into default WordPress posts and categories, we mapped the symposium structure intentionally:

• Participants with demographic data, profile images, and social links
• Projects with abstracts, research posters, and themes
• Symposium dates and program affiliations
• Degree programs and expected graduation dates
• Faculty mentors and industry sponsors

This approach required extending WordPress with custom post types, custom taxonomies, custom fields, and post relationships. The key lesson was to avoid the default post versus page mindset and model the data according to the real structure of the event.

Launch, iteration, and problem solving

After launch, the work shifted toward refinement and scale:

• Managing two symposium events per semester with a clearly defined active event view
• Using taxonomy term metadata to determine which symposium is currently featured
• Automatically generating archive pages for past events
• Transitioning from CSV imports to structured form submissions that create draft custom post type entries
• Programmatically establishing relationships between participants and projects at submission time

The architecture relied on WordPress queries, taxonomy term metadata, and extendable form tooling to support a sustainable editorial workflow.

Preparing for the Block Editor

As the Block Editor approached core release, the question was whether a heavily customized site could adapt to a significant shift in the editing experience. WordPress backward compatibility proved dependable. Page content could move to blocks while structured data continued using established patterns, allowing gradual adoption rather than a full rebuild.

Adapting to virtual events

The shift to online events changed the role of the site from archive to primary event platform. The team responded by:

• Adding taxonomy fields for session and Zoom links
• Using the filterable symposium interface as a virtual lobby experience
• Recreating the in-person browsing model in a digital format

The flexibility of the data model allowed for rapid development without restructuring the entire system.

Extending engagement beyond the event

Professional photography originally created for print was incorporated through custom blocks and conditional display logic. A featured student option allowed selected projects to receive elevated visual treatment while maintaining consistency across the archive.

Faculty mentors were expanded beyond simple taxonomy labels by adding structured term metadata, mentorship indicators, and related storytelling content. This helped recognize faculty contributions while strengthening the overall research narrative.

What we gained

• A durable, searchable archive representing years of student research
• A platform that drives engagement beyond a single event day
• A system that highlights both students and faculty
• A demonstrated example within ASU of WordPress supporting complex institutional needs

What we learned

• Extendable: Model data intentionally and avoid relying on default content types.
• Reliable: Backward compatibility supports long-term institutional projects.
• Developer friendly: A low barrier to customization enables rapid iteration and improvement.