2004 Redesign of Lane's Website

After several years of incremental improvements to the college website, a major redesign was undertaken in 2004. The goal of the redesign was to improve the navigation, content, consistency and aesthetics of Lane’s website.

The redesign process utilized feedback from a survey of website users, two focus groups, an outside expert on college websites, and other feedback from students, staff and community members. From this extensive feedback, it became clear that the college could benefit from a redesign of the look and navigation of the college website.

Specific recommendations were developed by a website consultant based on the survey and focus groups, and then these recommendations were discussed and endorsed by the Executive Team and the Web Steering Committee in the spring of 2004.

The committee worked in partnership with web developer and faculty member, Meredith Keene-Wilson, who previously had designed department webpages for Marketing and Public Relations and Information Technology.

A navigation subcommittee of the Website Steering Committee worked to improve navigation from the college homepage so information in high demand can be located quickly and easily. Then a new look and layout for the homepage was developed by Keene-Wilson and a design subcommittee. Once the new homepage was finalized, a look for top-level pages was developed that continued some of the layout and design features of the homepage. Then three design options were developed for departments to use for their webpages, and these pages also maintained some design consistencies with higher-level pages in order to assist users in navigating the site and to present a high quality and consistent image of Lane. Departments can choose among these templates and then insert their own text—which will increase the quality and consistency of college webpages. Using the templates also reduces the cost of college webpages, since departments will not need to hire a professional web developer in order to obtain professionally-designed pages for their department.

In addition to improving the navigation, aesthetics and consistency of college webpages, the plan for the website also includes improving the content of pages throughout the site. One goal for the website is to have information on every page rather than just a list of links. Another goal is to use a consistent writing style for webpages that is clear, concise, and uses first- or second-person address to cultivate a tone that is friendly rather than institutional. A Writer’s Style Guide (link) has been developed to assist those who are writing content for Lane’s webpages.