Website Redesign for the California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA)
Accessible, mobile-optimized website supporting equity, transparency, and public engagement.
Website Redesign Project & Client Details
- Client: California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs
- Date: March 2025
- Website: California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs
- Technologies:
- HTML5
- CSS3
jQuery
Secure Socket Layer (SSL)
WordPress
- Devices:
- Compatible Browsers:
The Challenge
The California Commission on Asian and Pacific Islander American Affairs (CAPIAA) needed a website that reflected its mission: to elevate the voices and priorities of California’s diverse AAPI communities. Their previous web presence lacked clarity, accessibility, and ease of navigation, making it difficult for the public to engage with programs, initiatives, and resources.
At the start of the project, CAPIAA also initiated a full brand and logo redesign, which temporarily delayed the website kickoff. However, this early branding effort laid the foundation for a more cohesive and meaningful design system across the new site.
With an expanding range of initiatives, including policy recommendations, community events, and grantmaking, CAPIAA required a modern, mobile-friendly site that could scale with its growing impact.
Our Approach
Capitol Tech Solutions collaborated closely with CAPIAA stakeholders and state partners to deliver a website that was both custom-designed and fully compliant with California’s government web standards. The project began with stakeholder interviews, a streamlined site map, and updated navigation to ensure community members, press, and policymakers could quickly access key resources.
Simultaneously, our team coordinated with CAWeb Publishing to build and deploy the new site within the California Department of Technology (CDT)’s infrastructure using the State Web Template. The website was developed in WordPress with the Divi theme builder, a system that requires more hands-on coding and customization than tools like Bricks but ensures full compatibility with state hosting requirements.
Thanks to the branding update completed earlier in the project, we were able to create a cohesive visual design that respected CAPIAA’s new identity while staying within the constraints of the CAWeb framework.
Key components of the build included:
- Custom state-compliant website built in WordPress with Divi
- Full ADA/WCAG 2.2 AA accessibility compliance, including manual audits
- Mobile-first layout with multilingual readiness
- Updated site architecture to highlight programs, reports, and press releases
- CMS training and documentation for CAPIAA staff
Results
Launched in March 2025, the redesigned CAPIAA website now provides a clean, accessible, and mobile-optimized experience that reflects the Commission’s values and public mission. Internal staff can easily manage updates, news, and reports, while the public benefits from a streamlined, user-friendly interface.
Project Highlights
- Modern brand-integrated design within the CAWeb template
- ADA-compliant to WCAG 2.2 AA standards
- Improved access to community resources, reports, and programs
- Built-in flexibility for future growth and content publishing
Explore the Live Site
We couldn’t have asked for better project leads than Ari Johnson and Lorena Leon. They kept us on top of schedule, communicated timelines, and worked with us to understand our vision. The professionalism, management, and enthusiasm are all factors in making this project enjoyable and manageable. Major kudos to the entire team, we couldn’t have done it without your help!
-Manager of Communications & External Affairs
