This is the 14th in a several-part series of interviews with communicators who have redesigned or updated their Web sites. If you have redesigned your site or have a site to suggest for these interviews, let us know.In this edition: Tim Montgomery on the BioTechnology Institute Web site
What were your reasons for redesigning the site?
The department/unit site for the BioTechnology Institute needed to be updated to conform to University design standards, and we wanted to take advantage of the opportunity to upgrade to a 960 pixel format, conform the look and link navigation between component websites of the Institute (primarily the Biocatalysis Initiative, the Biotechnology Resource Center, the Biotechnology Training Grant, and the Microbial Engineering graduate program), and incorporate a video element and several other features.
What kind of user research or user testing did you do?
We had several meetings of a marketing/promotions committee and solicited input from users via our Office/Administrative Specialist, who presented examples of websites and website features that she and other users liked to compare and contrast with what the committee members perceived was needed.
What factors went into the organization of the site?
We needed to work within University templates. We wanted universal BioTechnology Institute navigation throughout the different component sites. We wanted special graphic treatment of all home pages including a video element. And, in the end, we ended up carrying through most of the previous navigation structure and content.
How did you think about the visual design of your site within the context of the University brand?
We fully utilized University templates with headers and footers (and modified style sheets) and dropped the BioTechnology Institute logo (though we retained the type element within a secondary graphic 'header'). I had also designed and put together interactive Flash-type graphics for each home page within the site using javascript and image-mapped rollovers to mimic the effect of Flash designs using action scripting on the University home page and others (you can use the Photoshop ImageReady extension to help in creating some elements), but this was dropped in favor of the simpler slideshow next to a secondary navigation element (I'm still working on stylesheet scripting to graphically spruce this up).
What was the biggest challenge, and how did you get past it?
Getting people to think about overall site structure and functionality beyond the home page design. We're still working on this as I try to incorporate other features.
How did you manage the project and keep it on track?
We set up an overall deadline for the department/unit website to be updated by January 1, 2010, and I worked with the BioTechnology Institute director and key office personnel to get decisions and approvals made on a timetable to meet that deadline (the main site update went live on Dec. 31st). Updates on all secondary elements of the site were completed by the middle of February (though, as mentioned before, I'm still working out some kinks and working on updates for new website features).
What tips do you have for other units redesigning their Web sites?
Be sure that beyond committee discussions, you have some authority or a working relationship with those in positions of authority to make decisions necessary to get the project done in a timely manner.
How are you evaluating the redesign's success?
We're continuing to take input and to work out small problems that have cropped up while also working on longer-range feature updates. A meeting of the marketing/promotion committee will be scheduled soon to review and discuss feedback on the current state of the site and ongoing updates.
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