Web Design and Maintenance

Web Design and Maintenance
Purpose
What do you want to accomplish?
Without a clear purpose, your site can become pointless and rambling
Who do you want to reach?
Your target audience determines look and feel, but also how content should be written
What do you want to tell them?
Have some key concepts and ideas. Distill it.
Remember: people skim, not read, Web pages
Avoid lengthy, pedantic or overly academic content

Content is King
More important than any other element, including colors, layout or images
Can be difficult and time-consuming
Content Tips
Supply all of the text exactly as you want it to appear
Watch for abbreviations, acronyms and jargon
Don't cut corners and assume we will fill in the rest
Organize content to reflect the structure of your site

Omit Needless Words
After you write content, remove half the words.
The page will be less noisy.
Useful content will stand out.
Pages will be shorter (that’s good, since people don’t read).
Avoid small talk, welcomes and mission statements. Users want you to get to the point.
No one reads instructions. Don’t include them.

Focus on the User or Student
Audience determines presentation
Do not focus on the perspective of your office, department or self
A User Should Not Have to Ask:
Where am I? Where should I begin?
What am I looking at?
Where did they put _____? Why did they call it that?
What are the most important things on this page?

Photo Tips
Use high-resolution images
Clearly display the subject
Photos taken on cell phones/ webcams or that do not clearly frame the subject should not be used
Avoid using Bengal Card photos
Examples
Good- http://www.isu.edu/english/Faculty/BrianAttebery.html
Webcam- http://www.isu.edu/english/Faculty/RogerSchmidt.html
Framing- http://www.isu.edu/housing/hall_rendezvous.shtml

Photo Examples
Webcam- http://www.isu.edu/english/Faculty/RogerSchmidt.html
Good- http://www.isu.edu/english/Faculty/BrianAttebery.html

Photo Examples
Framing (from an actual ISU page, now removed)

Photo Tips
If you embed photos in a Word or PDF file, please send the original photo files separately
Schedule a shoot with Photographic Services, or request photos they already have
http://www.isu.edu/urelate/photo_services
282-3775

Print Pieces
If digital versions of print materials are available, we can use design elements from them to create a site.
Examples:
http://www.isu.edu/asisu/march/
http://www.isu.edu/acadaff/strategicplan/index.shtml

Example of Print Piece to Web Site: March through the Arch
http://www.isu.edu/asisu/march/

Example of Print Piece to Web Site: Strategic Plan
http://www.isu.edu/acadaff/strategicplan/index.shtml

Web Design and Maintenance

by IdahoStateU on Jun 29, 2009

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Web Design and Maintenance — Presentation Transcript

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