Interview: MICaB Web site redesign

This is the twelfth 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 Leonard on the Microbiology Immunology and Cancer Biology Graduate Program Web site

What were your reasons for redesigning the site?

• The Web site was old and although used a lot it was inefficient and required more clicks than necessary to reach the desired information.
• The University is requiring compliance with the new format.

What kind of user research or user testing did you do?

• After designing test pages I presented it to the director and Louise [Shand].
• Currently we are accepting requests for alterations from users.

What factors went in to the organization of the site?
Ease of getting to important and often used data like: our weekly seminars, application data for prospective students and course information for students during the course

How did you think about the visual design of your site within the context of the University brand?
I took the University templates and decided how to fit our content and make use of the multi panel layout.

What was the biggest challenge, and how did you get past it?

• Creating pull-down menus to incorporate immediately accessible links that most users need
• Learning to use the CSS
• Both issues required a lot of study and trial and error.

How did you manage the project and keep it on track?
There was no time frame other than the end-of-2010 U of M deadline. I was the only one working on the project until I put it online.

What did you learn from the process?
Learning CSS is challenging but doable. For us it was best to have one person do the study and the design. For other units there may be more needs and comments than we have so the challenges will differ.

How are you evaluating the site's success?
It will all be based on comments from students, faculty, and a new director of graduate studies when that person takes over.