LOTS of information was shared with campus-wide Web site administrators at a meeting on Thursday, Nov. 12. with the goal of helping everyone begin the process of creating, updating and migrating Web content onto the NEW Web pages that will be in Phase One of the launch.
We're sharing several documents via this blog that were presented at the meeting. There will be a followup meeting on Thursday, Nov. 19, 12:15 p.m. Humanities Lecture Hall for anyone who was unable to attend the meeting this week.
Here are some background materials to review:
Information Architecture (sitemap)
Design Template PowerPoint
Phase One Schedule
If you have questions, please email webmaster@unca.edu and we will try to either answer your questions via email or line up a time to meet with you to review how we can help with your site content challenges.
Thanks to all for your help in creating the new Web site.
Thursday, November 12, 2009
Friday, October 9, 2009
We Have a Winner!
Almost 1,200 people responded to our recent online poll that asked faculty, staff, alumni, students and others to help us choose the best of two designs for the new UNC Asheville home page. The good news is there was a VERY clear preference and only 2.7 percent of the respondents didn’t like either design.
Almost 75 percent of respondents preferred a design called “Thinking Big.” That is clear validation that we’re on the right track with the design. Additional tweaks will be made to that design based on comments made by respondents and by members of the Web Advisory Committee who have been working on the project.
Here is the design that will move forward. It’s called “Thinking Big” because at UNC Asheville, we do just that.
In addition to the new look for the homepage, there will be new designs for the second-tier pages similar to the “Admissions” page mockup that reflects the same color scheme as the homepage.
Here is a sample of the new Admissions page,
Comments made by more than 500 people who took the preference test will help us make additional adjustments, especially for the header at the top of the page. An overwhelming number of people commented that they liked the inclusion of the mountain scenery on the header, but many also said only showing mountains did not fully describe our campus and the vibrant City of Asheville.
Therefore, we will be working on rotating headers that give a better sense of place. These multiple headers will rotate each time a user visits the page.
Here’s a brief summary of some of the themes that emerged from the preference testing:
• Respondents expressed a strong preference for blue as a predominate color, saying this connected to the university’s official color, and to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
• 90 comments of the 555 received liked using the mountains on the page in some way.
• Many respondents commented that the second design seemed cluttered and was too generic. There were negative comments about the green and orange color palette of the second design called “Framework for Discovery”.
• Many positive comments on the large, rotating feature and photograph saying this allowed readers to see the many faces of the campus.
• There were positive comments about the readability of “Thinking Big” and its use of color and organization of links.
Next steps
Programming and copy creation for the new pages will begin right away, and there will be 10 new templates developed for various pages within the main site. These templates will be programmed in the new Content Management System (Drupal). A subcommittee will be working on a content strategy and on determining which sub-pages will be a part of the initial relaunch of the Web site scheduled for early January.
The Web Advisory Committee also is working with ITS to identify all staff who have Web authoring duties so that we can begin providing additional information on migrating copy to the new templates and learning how to work with the CMS (Drupal). There are plans for training to be offered to staff on using the templates and Drupal.
Almost 75 percent of respondents preferred a design called “Thinking Big.” That is clear validation that we’re on the right track with the design. Additional tweaks will be made to that design based on comments made by respondents and by members of the Web Advisory Committee who have been working on the project.
Here is the design that will move forward. It’s called “Thinking Big” because at UNC Asheville, we do just that.
In addition to the new look for the homepage, there will be new designs for the second-tier pages similar to the “Admissions” page mockup that reflects the same color scheme as the homepage.
Here is a sample of the new Admissions page,
Comments made by more than 500 people who took the preference test will help us make additional adjustments, especially for the header at the top of the page. An overwhelming number of people commented that they liked the inclusion of the mountain scenery on the header, but many also said only showing mountains did not fully describe our campus and the vibrant City of Asheville.
Therefore, we will be working on rotating headers that give a better sense of place. These multiple headers will rotate each time a user visits the page.
Here’s a brief summary of some of the themes that emerged from the preference testing:
• Respondents expressed a strong preference for blue as a predominate color, saying this connected to the university’s official color, and to the Blue Ridge Mountains.
• 90 comments of the 555 received liked using the mountains on the page in some way.
• Many respondents commented that the second design seemed cluttered and was too generic. There were negative comments about the green and orange color palette of the second design called “Framework for Discovery”.
• Many positive comments on the large, rotating feature and photograph saying this allowed readers to see the many faces of the campus.
• There were positive comments about the readability of “Thinking Big” and its use of color and organization of links.
Next steps
Programming and copy creation for the new pages will begin right away, and there will be 10 new templates developed for various pages within the main site. These templates will be programmed in the new Content Management System (Drupal). A subcommittee will be working on a content strategy and on determining which sub-pages will be a part of the initial relaunch of the Web site scheduled for early January.
The Web Advisory Committee also is working with ITS to identify all staff who have Web authoring duties so that we can begin providing additional information on migrating copy to the new templates and learning how to work with the CMS (Drupal). There are plans for training to be offered to staff on using the templates and Drupal.
Wednesday, September 23, 2009
We're ready to test some designs!
The redesign of the UNC Asheville Web site has reached an exciting phase, and we need your help in telling us what you think of our top two design concepts.
After many months of working on site architecture, blueprints, content outlines and other preliminary work on the site, we are ready to preference test two designs that have made it though several rounds of testing and revisions by our university-wide committee as well as some student and faculty reviews.
Please take the survey (link below) to help guide our further evolutions of the designs. But first, let’s look at the designs and what they represent. We’ll be using your feedback to further modify designs in the next few weeks.
WHAT AM I LOOKING AT?
You will be seeing two designs, each with a homepage and a second-tier page (in this case the Admissions page). After you’ve picked your favorite, take the survey and add any comments you’d like.
REMEMBER OUR GOALS?
We started this project so that the UNC Asheville Web site will reflect the culture of the university, create a sense of community and collaboration and give the user a content rich experience. Most importantly, we want Web users to easily find the information they are seeking, and a bit more than they expected. In a nutshell, we want to create a site that is distinctly UNC Asheville and conveys that personality.
HERE ARE THE DESIGNS!
1. Thinking Big - - This design tells the story of UNC Asheville through a combination of wide-angle scenes and tight shots paired with thought-provoking headlines showing upcoming events or showcasing students or faculty projects on campus. The images show how students can forge real connections with professors, get hands-on experience and contribute to the process of learning. At a smaller school like UNC Asheville, you get to see the bigger picture from a closer vantage point. A green and blue palette feels familiar yet fresh and inviting. The header evokes the spirit of discovery and our mountain location.
2. Framework for Discovery - - In this design we highlight a framework that allows students the freedom to discover their own path - - as a liberal arts education is known for doing. This is a classic design with a few “popped” elements, and a montage of images that can be updated to include any number of feature stories about activities or events on campus. There are subtle textures and a seasonal element in the top left. A subdued palette and traditional lines give this design a solid page structure.
Ready to take the survey and let us know your thoughts?
Click here.
Thank you for your comments. Check back often to read what others are saying.
After many months of working on site architecture, blueprints, content outlines and other preliminary work on the site, we are ready to preference test two designs that have made it though several rounds of testing and revisions by our university-wide committee as well as some student and faculty reviews.
Please take the survey (link below) to help guide our further evolutions of the designs. But first, let’s look at the designs and what they represent. We’ll be using your feedback to further modify designs in the next few weeks.
WHAT AM I LOOKING AT?
You will be seeing two designs, each with a homepage and a second-tier page (in this case the Admissions page). After you’ve picked your favorite, take the survey and add any comments you’d like.
REMEMBER OUR GOALS?
We started this project so that the UNC Asheville Web site will reflect the culture of the university, create a sense of community and collaboration and give the user a content rich experience. Most importantly, we want Web users to easily find the information they are seeking, and a bit more than they expected. In a nutshell, we want to create a site that is distinctly UNC Asheville and conveys that personality.
HERE ARE THE DESIGNS!
1. Thinking Big - - This design tells the story of UNC Asheville through a combination of wide-angle scenes and tight shots paired with thought-provoking headlines showing upcoming events or showcasing students or faculty projects on campus. The images show how students can forge real connections with professors, get hands-on experience and contribute to the process of learning. At a smaller school like UNC Asheville, you get to see the bigger picture from a closer vantage point. A green and blue palette feels familiar yet fresh and inviting. The header evokes the spirit of discovery and our mountain location.
Home Page 1
Admissions Page 1
2. Framework for Discovery - - In this design we highlight a framework that allows students the freedom to discover their own path - - as a liberal arts education is known for doing. This is a classic design with a few “popped” elements, and a montage of images that can be updated to include any number of feature stories about activities or events on campus. There are subtle textures and a seasonal element in the top left. A subdued palette and traditional lines give this design a solid page structure.
Home Page 2
Admissions Page 2
Ready to take the survey and let us know your thoughts?
Click here.
Thank you for your comments. Check back often to read what others are saying.
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Blueprints, Architecture and Features Reviewed
It may feel like summertime, but there’s no vacation break for those of us working on the UNC Asheville Web site redesign.
The university Web Redesign Advisory Team reviewed and gave significant input on the new site’s proposed “Blueprint” on Thursday , June 11, presented by Capstrat, the agency assisting us on the project.
Some of the information we reviewed included the site’s overarching goals:
• To reflect the culture of UNC Asheville
• To demonstrate our university’s mission through evidence
• To build a strong foundation on which to grow the site
To achieve those goals we want to show (and not just "tell") the distinguishing characteristics of our university, focusing on the events that are occurring on the campus, illustrating the success of our students, faculty and alumni, and giving examples of the meaning a quality liberal arts education.
The design, content and architecture of the Web site must take all of those things into consideration.
Several new features and functionality that we would like to build into the new site design were proposed, including interactive virtual tours of the campus, video interviews with students, a “Day in the Life” student blog, and a “Perspectives” feature that would allow faculty, staff and students to participate in online discussions of world events or issues being studied in various classes. Some Web Team members observed that these new features would be time intensive to produce, but would certainly set a new standard for our Web presence. We are excited about plans to work with faculty and students in Multimedia Arts and Sciences in the fall to produce a virtual campus tour and other features. More on that later.
The Information Architecture (IA) of the new site also was discussed, and Web Team members gave good suggestions for the main homepage links and sublinks. A revised sitemap is being studied and an online “tree test” (survey) is being conducted among faculty, staff, students, alumni and other groups to help us make sure the site is easy to navigate.
Please help us by taking part in this “tree test”. It only takes a few minutes. You can find the survey online here:
http://deliver.capstrat.com/userexperience/unc-asheville/
We’re also continuing to “build a strong foundation” for the Web site in the future by securing a Content Management System (CMS). A CMS is software that creates and manages Web pages including editing and distribution of content within a Web site. It also allows much greater consistency in design throughout a Web site. More information about the chosen CMS, called Drupal, will be shared with the campus in the coming months, including which individual sites will be migrated into the CMS and what kind of training will be offered.
We continue to be on schedule for the next major steps forward - - Content Creation and Visual Design - - beginning in July.
Comments are welcome!
The university Web Redesign Advisory Team reviewed and gave significant input on the new site’s proposed “Blueprint” on Thursday , June 11, presented by Capstrat, the agency assisting us on the project.
Some of the information we reviewed included the site’s overarching goals:
• To reflect the culture of UNC Asheville
• To demonstrate our university’s mission through evidence
• To build a strong foundation on which to grow the site
To achieve those goals we want to show (and not just "tell") the distinguishing characteristics of our university, focusing on the events that are occurring on the campus, illustrating the success of our students, faculty and alumni, and giving examples of the meaning a quality liberal arts education.
The design, content and architecture of the Web site must take all of those things into consideration.
Several new features and functionality that we would like to build into the new site design were proposed, including interactive virtual tours of the campus, video interviews with students, a “Day in the Life” student blog, and a “Perspectives” feature that would allow faculty, staff and students to participate in online discussions of world events or issues being studied in various classes. Some Web Team members observed that these new features would be time intensive to produce, but would certainly set a new standard for our Web presence. We are excited about plans to work with faculty and students in Multimedia Arts and Sciences in the fall to produce a virtual campus tour and other features. More on that later.
The Information Architecture (IA) of the new site also was discussed, and Web Team members gave good suggestions for the main homepage links and sublinks. A revised sitemap is being studied and an online “tree test” (survey) is being conducted among faculty, staff, students, alumni and other groups to help us make sure the site is easy to navigate.
Please help us by taking part in this “tree test”. It only takes a few minutes. You can find the survey online here:
http://deliver.capstrat.com/userexperience/unc-asheville/
We’re also continuing to “build a strong foundation” for the Web site in the future by securing a Content Management System (CMS). A CMS is software that creates and manages Web pages including editing and distribution of content within a Web site. It also allows much greater consistency in design throughout a Web site. More information about the chosen CMS, called Drupal, will be shared with the campus in the coming months, including which individual sites will be migrated into the CMS and what kind of training will be offered.
We continue to be on schedule for the next major steps forward - - Content Creation and Visual Design - - beginning in July.
Comments are welcome!
Thursday, April 23, 2009
Listening Sessions well attended, follow-up survey planned
Last week we gave the campus community - - faculty, staff, students, alumni and members of the greater Asheville community – an opportunity to give us feedback and ideas about how we can improve the university’s core Web site. Five, hour-long “Listening Sessions” were staged on April 17.
We listened a lot, and we learned a lot. But we need a bit more input from students and alumni, so we’re launching a short online survey to make sure we have good input.
Everyone, especially students and alumni, are welcome to fill out the survey and be eligible for a drawing for a $50 gift card from the UNC Asheville Bookstore.
Just log onto Link to survey and submit the survey to be eligible for a drawing. See, we’re serious about wanting your ideas! So keep them coming.
Now, here’s a recap of some of the things we heard during the “Listening Sessions.”
Provide relevant content
• Retire old content,
• Improve search capabilities,
• Limit university jargon and organize content around topics not the university’s organizational structure
• Provide “filterable” content that can be used on Google Calendar
• Make sure the second tier pages have has much content and thought as the admissions site or the homepage.
Demonstrate through evidence
• Saying is not enough, need to show it and it needs to be more interactive
• Add a “bragging” section to highlight important quick facts
• Consider video clips that explain what a liberal arts education is
• Show successful alums and what they have achieved thanks to UNC Asheville
• Show Study Abroad students and their activities, as well as student groups and other activities that students take part in
Content Caretaking
• Consider a student team to keep pulse of what’s going on and produce content
• Update content more often
• Create more design and content consistency across departmental pages
• Provide guidance on site development, web styles, guiding principles
• Need to have some password protected segments of the site
Culture, Authenticity and Uniqueness
• Need to have a “street-level” view of campus, not just the same “mountain” view
• Don’t use generic images of Asheville, it’s not the Chamber of Commerce
• Site should feel comfortable
• Convey the flavor of the campus and of Asheville with photos, music, the coffee houses downtown
• Show how professors and students interact, “I overheard a student saying the Dean had ‘Facebooked’ them.” That needs to be conveyed. Professors here call
students if they are not in class for a few days.
Internal and External Audiences
• Site has to be outward facing but with an internal utility. It’s failing at tring to be both. It’s not serving either effectively
• Need to connect with community members who didn’t got to UNC Asheville
• Need little places that show this connection to community and the world, things that are experientially-learning based, service learning, internships, study abroad.
We listened a lot, and we learned a lot. But we need a bit more input from students and alumni, so we’re launching a short online survey to make sure we have good input.
Everyone, especially students and alumni, are welcome to fill out the survey and be eligible for a drawing for a $50 gift card from the UNC Asheville Bookstore.
Just log onto Link to survey and submit the survey to be eligible for a drawing. See, we’re serious about wanting your ideas! So keep them coming.
Now, here’s a recap of some of the things we heard during the “Listening Sessions.”
Provide relevant content
• Retire old content,
• Improve search capabilities,
• Limit university jargon and organize content around topics not the university’s organizational structure
• Provide “filterable” content that can be used on Google Calendar
• Make sure the second tier pages have has much content and thought as the admissions site or the homepage.
Demonstrate through evidence
• Saying is not enough, need to show it and it needs to be more interactive
• Add a “bragging” section to highlight important quick facts
• Consider video clips that explain what a liberal arts education is
• Show successful alums and what they have achieved thanks to UNC Asheville
• Show Study Abroad students and their activities, as well as student groups and other activities that students take part in
Content Caretaking
• Consider a student team to keep pulse of what’s going on and produce content
• Update content more often
• Create more design and content consistency across departmental pages
• Provide guidance on site development, web styles, guiding principles
• Need to have some password protected segments of the site
Culture, Authenticity and Uniqueness
• Need to have a “street-level” view of campus, not just the same “mountain” view
• Don’t use generic images of Asheville, it’s not the Chamber of Commerce
• Site should feel comfortable
• Convey the flavor of the campus and of Asheville with photos, music, the coffee houses downtown
• Show how professors and students interact, “I overheard a student saying the Dean had ‘Facebooked’ them.” That needs to be conveyed. Professors here call
students if they are not in class for a few days.
Internal and External Audiences
• Site has to be outward facing but with an internal utility. It’s failing at tring to be both. It’s not serving either effectively
• Need to connect with community members who didn’t got to UNC Asheville
• Need little places that show this connection to community and the world, things that are experientially-learning based, service learning, internships, study abroad.
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
Web design firm chosen; campus input needed
The University Web site redesign project is currently under way, and we have several developments to report.
Web design firm chosen
The university has contracted with a well-known communications firm to assist UNC Asheville staff in rebuilding the Web site employing best practices in Web architecture, design and functionality. Capstrat, based in Raleigh, N.C., was chosen during a competitive bid process and has already begun their work with our staff.
Capstrat specializes in marketing communications, interactive communications, public relations and public affairs.
Listening sessions scheduled
One of the first activities will be a series of “Listening Sessions” among faculty, staff students, alumni, community leaders and others. At these sessions throughout the afternoon on Thursday, April 16, the campus community is invited to learn more about the project and to give their views about how the new UNC Asheville Web site should function. Your input will be critical in designing the new site.
Please consider attending one of these sessions:
Thursday, April 16
12:15- 1:15 p.m. Faculty and Staff - - Zeis Hall Room 014
2-3 p.m.—Faculty and Staff - - Whitman Room, Ramsey Library
3-4 p.m. --Alumni and Community - - Whitman Room, Ramsey Library
4-5 p.m. - - Open session for anyone interested - - Whitman Room, Ramsey Library
7-8 p.m. - - Students - - Highsmith University Union, Room 221
A special session for prospective students and parents will be scheduled at a later date.
If you cannot attend any of these sessions, we still want your input, which you can post on this blog, or send via email to Deborah Griffith, Communications and Marketing, dgriffit@unca.edu.
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, April 16.
Web design firm chosen
The university has contracted with a well-known communications firm to assist UNC Asheville staff in rebuilding the Web site employing best practices in Web architecture, design and functionality. Capstrat, based in Raleigh, N.C., was chosen during a competitive bid process and has already begun their work with our staff.
Capstrat specializes in marketing communications, interactive communications, public relations and public affairs.
Listening sessions scheduled
One of the first activities will be a series of “Listening Sessions” among faculty, staff students, alumni, community leaders and others. At these sessions throughout the afternoon on Thursday, April 16, the campus community is invited to learn more about the project and to give their views about how the new UNC Asheville Web site should function. Your input will be critical in designing the new site.
Please consider attending one of these sessions:
Thursday, April 16
12:15- 1:15 p.m. Faculty and Staff - - Zeis Hall Room 014
2-3 p.m.—Faculty and Staff - - Whitman Room, Ramsey Library
3-4 p.m. --Alumni and Community - - Whitman Room, Ramsey Library
4-5 p.m. - - Open session for anyone interested - - Whitman Room, Ramsey Library
7-8 p.m. - - Students - - Highsmith University Union, Room 221
A special session for prospective students and parents will be scheduled at a later date.
If you cannot attend any of these sessions, we still want your input, which you can post on this blog, or send via email to Deborah Griffith, Communications and Marketing, dgriffit@unca.edu.
We look forward to seeing you on Thursday, April 16.
Friday, March 20, 2009
Welcome to the Redesign Blog-Post 1
Welcome to the “unca.edu” redesign blog, intended to provide ongoing updates on the project to restructure and redesign the UNC Asheville Web presence.
Latest updates:
Web design firm: Two nationally known Web design firms presented their approaches to the proposed project on Wednesday, March 11, as a part of a competitive selection process. The chosen firm will begin working with the Web Advisory team and the staff in Communications and IT as soon as possible.
An announcement about the firm and its background and approach will be made in the next several weeks.
“Interim” Web designs: Staff from Communications and IT have been working on some improvements in design and functionality for the university’s current home page. These changes are a prelude to the full-scale redesign that will be undertaken during the next nine months. You’ll be able to see the new look soon. Check back on this page for the latest on that project.
We want to hear from you: If you have ideas or comments about the Web redesign project as it progresses, this blog is the place to post them.
