Student Stories: the honest uni experience
Context: The University of Reading recognised that prospective undergraduates wanted more than slick brochures and polished marketing copy to decide where to study. Choosing a university is a major life pivot, and applicants wanted transparent, relatable accounts of what student life is genuinely like – covering the highs, the lows, and everything in between.
The requirements: The University needed a dedicated digital platform to host real peer experiences in audio, video, and written formats. To resonate with young prospective students, the site had to feel informal, candid, and non-judgmental—steering clear of institutional preachy tone or corporate polish. Technically, it required seamless multimedia playback, full transcripts, and flexible search functionality so visitors could browse by keyword, subject, or topic.
The outputs: Glued designed and built the custom Student Stories website and supporting promotional materials:
Tactile Design & Identity: Developed a friendly visual style anchored around a corkboard and polaroid motif, giving the digital space an authentic, community-driven feel.
Multimedia Content Hub: Custom-built structured templates for audio clips, video interviews, and written articles, complete with interactive transcripts.
Clear Proposition & Messaging: Established the straight-talking core message: “No advice, no judging, no nagging. Real students, real voices, real journeys.”
Targeted Search & Navigation: Implemented keyword tag clouds and topic filters (covering subjects like accommodation, work placements, fees, and making friends) to help prospective students quickly find answers to their specific concerns.
The results The platform provided applicants with a genuine, peer-to-peer resource that directly supported their decision to choose the University of Reading. By replacing generic promotional speak with real student voices, the site built trust with prospective applicants, enhanced open-day engagement, and demonstrated Reading’s commitment to transparency and student wellbeing.
The website was live 2010-2018 while the project was live.
