1999 Redesign of Lane's Web Site

In spring 1999, the college launched a new design and navigational strategy. The redesign process was a collaborative effort of the Web Steering Committee, Enrollment Services, Graphic Identity Team and many Lane students and staff. During winter and spring terms 1998, an extensive analysis of the needs of students and other users was conducted. Counselors, advisors, faculty and other student services staff were interviewed to ascertain the questions students most frequently ask, information most critical to students, and students' feedback about the college's site. In addition, since the inception of Lane's website, the web committee has held several forums and solicited feedback about the site.

Based on this data, a web subcommittee was formed with the charge of creating a website that specifically met the needs of these two distinct audiences:

1. Students, prospective students and the staff who advise students
2. Staff and people outside the college who have a more general interest in the college or who want information on the web related to doing business at the college.

The primary objective of the redesign of the site was to better meet the needs of students by improving navigation and consistency throughout the site. A menu was added for prospective students on the first page that includes a listing of the different reasons to enroll at Lane. For staff and other users, a more institutional directory akin to the previous homepage also is included on the first page.

About the same time, the college adopted its new logo. As part of this effort, an outside web firm was hired to apply the new logo to Lane's website and redesign the look of the site. Interestingly, the main contact at this firm was a former Lane graphic design student.

In summary, the 1999 site:

• Was more contemporary looking
• Made better use of web technology
• Made better use of the space on the screen
• Incorporated the new logo expressly for the web

Meets requests from students for:

• More consistency to make it easier to know where they are in the site
• A clearer roadmap for different kinds of students
• Improved navigation and directories

Meets requests from staff for:

• A more interesting homepage
• A design that is easier to use
• Shorter and simpler standards
• Easier navigation