Work

The Katonah Museum of Art (KMA) is a non-collecting kunsthaus in Westchester, NY. Unlike traditional museums, it does not own a permanent collection; its identity is shaped by a changing sequence of exhibitions and programs. In 2022, KMA engaged Byte to redesign its website and evolve its brand identity. The project had to respect the museum’s minimalist aesthetic, extend its visual system online, and above all, translate an ephemeral program into a structured, navigable digital experience.

Challenge

KMA faced three unique challenges:

Ephemerality as identity — With no permanent collection, the museum needed a way to present exhibitions and programs as both timely and archival, preserving a record of its history without claiming permanence.

Brand sensitivity — Arts organizations often resist change in their brand. KMA’s staff were open to exploration, but board involvement meant that updates had to remain minimal, modernizing the logo and developing flexible lock-ups without diluting its identity.

Institutional continuity — Leadership changes are common in museums, and new directors often rebuild websites. Byte’s task was not just to launch a site, but to ensure it would remain relevant, sustainable, and resilient through organizational turnover.

Approach

Byte’s process combined strategic consultation, brand refinement, and deep attention to information design.

Brand Distillation

We extended KMA’s minimalist brand online, ensuring design elements — from navigation to forms to footers — conveyed clarity without overshadowing art. The logo was systematized for multiple placements and media, balancing board conservatism with the need for modern usability.

Exhibitions as Data

To counter the absence of a permanent collection, Byte treated exhibitions themselves as a form of collection. We designed a schema and CMS architecture to capture the gamut of materials tied to each show: catalogs, audio tours, brochures, videos, checklists, press releases, family guides, social stories, and more. Visitors could browse past, present, and future exhibitions with contextual affordances that guided exploration without overwhelming them.

Information Architecture & User Experience

Visual hierarchy and content density were carefully calibrated to highlight the richness of KMA’s programming. Event calendars, search and discovery tools, and accessibility-compliant templates made it easy for audiences to find what they needed while revealing the depth of the museum’s education and outreach efforts.

Sustainability by Design

Byte’s philosophy of long-term stewardship shaped every decision. We avoided ephemeral CMS frameworks like WordPress, relying instead on stable, standards-based structures. Strong accessibility and semantic markup ensured clarity for both staff and search engines. Training, documentation, and ongoing governance support empowered staff to manage the site confidently, while Byte remained available as a first line of support and institutional memory.

Results

The redesigned website launched as both a reflection of KMA’s identity and a durable foundation for its future.

• Staff report feeling empowered to manage content and maintain the site.
• The exhibition archive has become a living record of KMA’s activity, demonstrating the museum’s cultural value across time.
• The brand gained flexibility without losing its minimal, art-first sensibility.
• Through accessibility, semantic clarity, and thoughtful structure, the site is positioned to last well beyond leadership cycles.