Dept. of the Treasury Kids Website
A Website to Educate Young Americans About the Basics of Treasury Securities
Alexander & Tom was asked to create a website to educate young Americans about the basics of Treasury securities (T-Bills, Savings Bonds, etc.), the history of public debt in America, investing in Treasury securities and the role that borrowing plays in Government operations, credit markets and the economic stability of the U.S.
A+T designed and developed a Webby Award winning, dynamic, engaging website with fun, easy-to-understand content that will be the reference point for youth interested in Treasury securities, as well as for teachers across America. This “Kids” site was built to complement the Treasurydirect.gov website, while presenting a youthful tone and easy-to-read, easy-to-understand content.
Features
- Website Design
- Information Architecture
- Copywriting
- Content Development
- Modular Design
- Video – John Wayne, Superman, Bugs Bunny Commercials from the Past
- 508 Video – closed captioning
- Posters and Artwork from Decades of Savings Bonds Marketing
Modular Design
The modular design of the Treasury kids website makes the site flexible and easy to update. The internal pages are based on a flexible template design so new components can be dropped into pages easily and quickly.
Character
Different characters were created and placed in key areas of this site to help instantly identify it as a website geared towards kids. For example, the character "Perry the Pig" was developed to help reinforce the relevance of money saving.
Content
Content for the website was written for pre-adolescent kids reading at a 5th grade level. A+T developed content that helps kids understand the basics of how public debt and Treasury securities work, as well as the impact Treasury securities have had throughout American history. The website also reinforces the importance to young Americans of saving for their future. This content helps make a topic that’s not typically thought of as relevant to today’s youth, much more engaging.
Games
Two interactive Flash-based games were created for the website: MoneyMemory and Perry’s Pennies. The games are fun and engaging for young audiences, and reinforce the different icons of savings and finance. The interaction helps give kids context to the concept of saving money, and makes them feel comfortable with the material covered in the site.
Video (and 508)
The U.S. Treasury created and broadcast several Public Service Announcements (PSAs) from the 40s through the 90s, helping to promote the importance of buying savings bonds to sustain both America’s economic health, as well as the value of their solid investment. The 16 videos were converted and optimized into section 508 accessible formats for the website - allowing everyone today to view a slice of the U.S. Treasury’s rich history in American culture.
Imagery from the Past
Along with the archival PSAs, A+T was also able to resurrect artwork, advertisements, and posters from the 40s, 50s, and 60s that promoted the importance of buying U.S. Savings Bonds and war bonds. The posters included some famous illustrations from Norman Rockwell that were commissioned by the U.S. Treasury.
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