The Road to RedesignThe Road to Redesign

Project ObjectiveProject Objective

To redesign & reorganize the To redesign & reorganize the Carleton web site.Carleton web site.

BackgroundBackground Carleton.edu has grown & changed Carleton.edu has grown & changed

dramaticallydramatically From a few pages to 300+ sites for offices, From a few pages to 300+ sites for offices,

departments, committees, student organizations, departments, committees, student organizations, etc.etc.

From HTML pages From HTML pages Dreamweaver templates Dreamweaver templates the Reason web content management systemthe Reason web content management system

TechnologicallyTechnologically, we’ve kept pace with the , we’ve kept pace with the timestimes Continuous introduction of new featuresContinuous introduction of new features Tools designed for ease of use, accessibility, and Tools designed for ease of use, accessibility, and

compliance with web standardscompliance with web standards

BackgroundBackground

BUT…BUT… Our home page and primary navigation Our home page and primary navigation

(the “blue bar”) haven’t changed (the “blue bar”) haven’t changed significantly in yearssignificantly in years

The default templates for offices & The default templates for offices & departments have changed little since departments have changed little since Reason was createdReason was created

The navigation structure needs to be The navigation structure needs to be revisited in light of Carleton.edu’s revisited in light of Carleton.edu’s exponential growthexponential growth

Scope of the ProjectScope of the Project

Definition of communications strategy for Definition of communications strategy for home page and major gateway sites home page and major gateway sites (prospective students, students, (prospective students, students, faculty/staff, alumni, etc.)faculty/staff, alumni, etc.)

Redesign of home page and major Redesign of home page and major gateway sites gateway sites

New, unified family of design templates New, unified family of design templates for campus offices and academic for campus offices and academic departmentsdepartments

Improved site organization and navigation Improved site organization and navigation

ProcessProcess

Define communications strategy Define communications strategy for home page, gateways and for home page, gateways and major site sectionsmajor site sections Communication goalsCommunication goals Primary audience(s)Primary audience(s) Key messagesKey messages

ProcessProcess

Complete content inventoryComplete content inventory Index of all live sitesIndex of all live sites Site traffic rankingsSite traffic rankings Last updatedLast updated Site maintainerSite maintainer Current usage patternsCurrent usage patterns

ProcessProcess

Analysis of Information Analysis of Information ArchitectureArchitecture User testing to identify intuitive User testing to identify intuitive

navigation categoriesnavigation categories Develop proposed top-level navigationDevelop proposed top-level navigation Test again (and again)Test again (and again)

ProcessProcess

Audience Brainstorming Audience Brainstorming Sessions, Focus Groups & Sessions, Focus Groups & SurveysSurveys Prospective StudentsProspective Students StudentsStudents FacultyFaculty StaffStaff AlumniAlumni Parents Parents

ProcessProcess

Creative BlueprintCreative Blueprint ““Personality” of the sitePersonality” of the site ““Voice” and “tone” of the contentVoice” and “tone” of the content Creative considerationsCreative considerations Color paletteColor palette

ProcessProcess

Design Concepts – Round 1Design Concepts – Round 1 3-4 distinctly different design options 3-4 distinctly different design options

(not variations on a theme)(not variations on a theme) Home page, gateway page and content Home page, gateway page and content

page concepts for eachpage concepts for each Testing & feedbackTesting & feedback Selection of preferred designSelection of preferred design

ProcessProcess

Design Concepts – Round 2Design Concepts – Round 2 Refinements/variations on the approved Refinements/variations on the approved

designdesign Concepts for major sites/sections, including:Concepts for major sites/sections, including:

Home pageHome page Gateway pageGateway page Administrative office siteAdministrative office site Academic department siteAcademic department site

Testing & feedbackTesting & feedback Final design approvalFinal design approval

ProcessProcess

Execution of the DesignExecution of the Design Design of all templates/motifs/themesDesign of all templates/motifs/themes Design of new page types as neededDesign of new page types as needed Technical DevelopmentTechnical Development

Cascading Stylesheet (CSS) developmentCascading Stylesheet (CSS) development CSS testingCSS testing Non-Reason site migrationsNon-Reason site migrations

User testingUser testing

ProcessProcess

And finally….And finally….

LAUNCH!LAUNCH!