The Opening Dissonance
- Limited internal capacity for digital-first design thinking
- Misalignment between Marketing Design, Product Marketing, and IT departments
- Outdated design processes and tools
- Technical limitations of an older CMS system
- Balancing innovation with maintaining trust among long-time customers
Envisioning a Harmonic Future
Our goal was to compose a digital foundation that would…
01
Implement new website guidelines aligned with digital-first principles
02
Bridge gaps between diverse stakeholders within HMH
03
Introduce cutting-edge design systems thinking to a traditionally print-focused marketing team
Orchestrating the Solution
Applying our Harmonic Design framework, we…
- Developed a component-based design system in Figma
- Introduced HMH’s design team to digital-first principles and UX processes
- Facilitated collaborative workshops with Marketing Design, Product Marketing, and IT
- Created workflows improving communication between design and development teams
Measuring the First Movement
Key outcomes of this initial phase included:
Successful implementation of new website guidelines
Significantly improved collaboration between departments
Enhanced digital design capabilities within HMH’s internal team
Increased stakeholder buy-in for digital transformation initiatives
Key Insight: The Power of Common Language
Throughout this phase, we discovered that creating a shared vocabulary for discussing digital design across departments was crucial for alignment and progress. This insight became a cornerstone for future collaboration.
Looking Ahead
As we concluded this phase of HMH’s digital transformation, we set the stage for…
- Expansion of web-based digital representation with a more capable internal team
- Implementation of more advanced digital transformation initiatives
- A shift towards a digital-first mindset in future initiatives
By orchestrating this initial phase of digital transformation, Jenny Lynn Weitz and Scott Cartwright helped HMH compose the first notes of their digital future. This case study demonstrates our ability to harmonize diverse organizational elements, laying a strong foundation for comprehensive and scalable change within the educational technology industry.
Curious about how this digital overture evolved?
Dive into the most recent rebranding phase for HMH’s transformation journey!







