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The CU Strategic Communications and Marketing team has earned international acclaim, taking home a pair of gold awards for the commonwealthu.edu website at the 2025 Hermes Creative Awards—one of the world’s oldest and most prestigious creative competitions. 

Administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), the Hermes Creative Awards honor outstanding work in traditional and emerging media. Each year, competition judges evaluate the international creative industry’s best work.

The CU website won gold in the Educational Institution Website category and received a second gold for Project Achievement in Website Consolidation, recognizing the successful unification of multiple university properties into a single, user-focused digital experience.

“This recognition speaks volumes about the power of collaboration and innovation across our university,” said CU president Bashar Hanna. “Our new website is more than a digital presence — it reflects our shared identity and commitment to providing accessible, student-centered experiences across all campuses. By unifying three legacy sites into one cohesive platform, we've streamlined how we connect with students, faculty, alumni, and partners.”

Launched in June 2024, the Commonwealth U website unified three legacy university websites and a microsite into a single, cohesive platform. The website reflects the unique history, identity, and traditions of CU’s four campuses while delivering a streamlined user experience. Features such as campus-specific filters for academic programs, news, events, and profiles allow users to tailor their web experience to their respective needs. 

The 18-month project involved a comprehensive overhaul of content across nearly every webpage to align with the integrated university. Led by the CU Web Team, the initiative relied on the collaboration of university offices, departments, and a dedicated team of students, employees, and freelancers.

“These awards validate the hard work, creativity, and collaboration behind the project,” said John Wetzel, chair of the Commonwealth University Council of Trustees. “More importantly, it’s another vehicle to keep Commonwealth University aligned with the communities we were created to serve and accessible to those who need it.” 

OHO Interactive played a critical role as CU’s strategic partner, overseeing the audit of legacy websites, development of the site’s information architecture and visual design, quality assurance, and launch execution.

With these awards affirming its strong foundation, Commonwealth University is positioned to continually evolve in support of the university’s mission, enhancing digital access, engagement, and user experience across all campuses.