MADISON — The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (DNR) today announced that the agency received two digital excellence awards for its Go Wild Redesigned Customer Dashboard.
Out of thousands of entries from across the United States and 12 countries, the DNR’s Go Wild Customer Dashboard received a Platinum Hermes Award, administered by the Association of Marketing and Communication Professionals (AMCP), and a Centauri Vega Digital Award, administered by International Awards Associate (IAA), for outstanding work in digital marketing and communications. This is the second year in a row that the platform has received awards for digital content and ease of use.
“We, at the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources are proud to continue to evolve our award-winning technology, streamlining the access to our natural resources from our customer’s fingertips,” said Mark Rappe, DNR IT Strategic Partnerships Supervisor.
The DNR launched Go Wild in 2016 in partnership with, to provide Wisconsin’s outdoor enthusiasts an easy-to-use online option to obtain fishing and hunting licenses, register for safety education courses and manage their boats, ATVs and other off-road vehicles through an efficient online experience.
In 2021, the DNR worked together with users and with the design team at NIC Wisconsin, a subsidiary of Tyler Technologies, to create a new layout that would further improve navigability and enhance the overall user experience for the public. Last year alone, Go Wild processed more than 8 million online orders. Already this year, there have been over 3.3 million online orders.
Along with other upgraded features, the updated Customer Dashboard includes a new section titled “My Gear,” which provides readily accessible summary information about the user’s current licenses, game registrations and vehicles. Combined with streamlined navigation buttons and an improved mobile experience, this new update makes it easier for users to quickly find what they are looking for.
“We are excited to continue to partner with DNR to enable their vision for streamlining the online purchase process and responding to user feedback,” said Nicole Randol, General Manager for NIC Wisconsin. “Our partnership, and shared focus on continual enhancements to meet the outdoor recreationalists’ needs, makes it easier than ever to enjoy Wisconsin’s natural resources.”
Each year, competition judges for the Hermes Awards evaluate the creative industry’s best publications, branding collateral, websites, videos and advertising, marketing and communication programs. Only about 16% of the nearly 6,500 entries won a “Platinum” award distinction in 2022. The AMCP, which administers the Hermes Awards each year, is an international organization consisting of several thousand marketing, communication, advertising, public relations, digital media production and freelance professionals.
Conducting the Vega Digital Awards, IAA is an independent, international organization focused on creating a community of marketing creativity, effectiveness and excellence. The Vega Awards jury gives awards based on a site’s inventiveness, navigation and ease of use, functionality and visual appeal.
