#  HWP's Exploration Lab 

 



##  HWP's Exploration Lab 

 

 

       ![AI-generated image of glass tiles overlapping](/sites/g/files/omnuum13026/files/styles/hwp_28_10__1920x685/public/2026-05/AdobeStock_868318183%20copy2.jpeg?itok=6jM2vRgW) 

 

 



 

 



 

The Labs is a space for experimentation, collaboration, and continuous improvement across the HarvardSites ecosystem. Here, HWP shares emerging ideas, pilot initiatives, and platform innovations that we are actively exploring with our community.

These efforts reflect our commitment to evolving Harvard’s web publishing environment through thoughtful governance, user feedback, accessibility, and scalable design practices.

The Labs provides a transparent look into how we test new capabilities, learn from our partners, and shape the future of sustainable, institutionally aligned web services at Harvard.



 

##  Current Projects 

Here are some of the exciting initiatives HWP is working on.

 

 



  [### AI-powered Drupal support chatbot

 ](https://drupal.harvardsites.harvard.edu/harvardsites-drupal-support-chatbot)Artificial Intelligence

A HarvardSites Drupal support chatbot for 24-hour support and help.



 

   ![AI-powered Drupal support chatbot](/sites/g/files/omnuum13026/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/smart_toy_1000dp_CCEBFF_FILL0_wght400_GRAD0_opsz49_1.png?itok=BLXZii0S) 

 

 

 

  [### AI Content Strategy Assistant

 ](https://ais-pre-iw4bfxfzkg4p7vn2q7zish-323660603292.us-east1.run.app/)Artificial Intelligence

Review a Harvard website and get practical next steps for clearer content, navigation, IA, and readability. This pilot tool draws on HWP guidance, HUIT accessibility practices, and usability research (HarvardKey required).



 

   ![AI Content Strategist icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum13026/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/smart_toy_1000dp_CCEBFF_FILL0_wght400_GRAD0_opsz48_4.png?itok=6kuF04M_) 

 

 

 

 ### AI-Assisted Accessibility Reviews

Artificial Intelligence

Investigating tools that help identify:

- Accessibility issues
- Content readability concerns
- Structural inconsistencies
- Metadata gaps



 

   ![AI-Assisted Accessibility Reviews](/sites/g/files/omnuum13026/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/smart_toy_1000dp_CCEBFF_FILL0_wght400_GRAD0_opsz50_2.png?itok=wOrOS534) 

 

 

 

 ### Governance Intelligence Tools

Governance

Exploring dashboards and automation concepts that support:

- Site inventory analysis
- Understanding how websites evolve over time
- Portfolio management
- Monitoring and managing large collections of sites



 

   ![Governance icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum13026/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/smart_toy_1000dp_CCEBFF_FILL0_wght400_GRAD0_opsz51.png?itok=BLgSJm8y) 

 

 

 

 ### Design System Prototyping

Design

Rapid testing of:

- New reusable components
- Interaction patterns
- Responsive templates
- Content modeling approaches



 

   ![DS Prototyping icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum13026/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/smart_toy_1000dp_CCEBFF_FILL0_wght400_GRAD0_opsz52.png?itok=dcud4r-b) 

 

 

 

 ### Content & Information Architecture Experiments

Content Strategy

Researching ways AI and analytics may support:

- Content organization
- Search optimization
- Navigation refinement
- User intent analysis



 

   ![Ai and content architecture icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum13026/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/smart_toy_1000dp_CCEBFF_FILL0_wght400_GRAD0_opsz53.png?itok=l4oKLlmE) 

 

 

 

 ### Community Feedback & Research Automation

User Research

Testing methods for synthesizing:

- Survey responses
- Governance feedback
- Usability observations
- Support trends



 

   ![Community Feedback & Research Automation icon](/sites/g/files/omnuum13026/files/styles/hwp_1_1__360x360_scale/public/2026-05/smart_toy_1000dp_CCEBFF_FILL0_wght400_GRAD0_opsz54.png?itok=W9K_HYIV)