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March 28, 2008
Purdue launches new, friendlier Web site
WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. - |
Features of the new site include a more powerful and prominent search engine, easier navigation, a simpler format, keyword index and drop-down menus. The new site is available for use as a link on the current home page until the end of the spring semester when the old site will be taken down.
Melanie Hahn, assistant director and editorial manager of Purdue Marketing Communications, said the new Web site was designed with users in mind and the transition period will allow visitors time to familiarize themselves with the new home page.
"The Web site is the front door to Purdue," Hahn said. "We wanted to make sure it welcomes both visitors and those inside the university. Research showed us that prospective students and their families are the top visitors to the site. These people are unfamiliar with the way the university is set up, so it was a top priority to make the navigation easy for them to follow."
Hahn said prospective students, for example, do not need to know that math is a major within the College of Science to locate it on the new site. In addition, employment and visiting links are more prominent and easier to find.
Purdue Marketing Communications used feedback gathered online and through focus groups to determine limitations and problems with the old site. Based on the information, the team created a draft site and held usability tests with audience groups, who were asked to try to locate specific information such as particular majors or employment pages. Further adjustments were made based on user feedback. The testing included current and prospective students, as well as groups from across the campus community.
The new site features fewer items per page and drop-down menus to provide quick access to more information and eliminate unnecessary clutter.
"Our old site had so much information competing for space that users couldn't find what they needed," Hahn said. "They had to read through too many links. The new design is much cleaner and simpler."
In addition, Hahn said, the custom-designed Google search engine provides a powerful tool for finding information.
"It allows people to type in what they are looking for and find the link that will take them straight to their destination," Hahn said. "If they aren't sure what to search for, they can always use the new A to Z keyword index to look for topics similar to what they want."
The search engine, which is prominently displayed at the top of the major pages, will become even more efficient as time goes by, she said.
"This search engine actually learns from experience," Hahn said. "Over time, it will track which results users click on the most in relation to specific search keywords, and it will display the most popular results at the top of the page when similar searches are performed."
In addition to the home page, many of the most-viewed secondary pages, such as academics and admissions, also are being redesigned to have the same overall look and organizational structure as the Purdue home page.
Hahn said the new site will continually be monitored through tracking and a built-in feedback feature that will allow users to submit suggestions.
"We want the new design to continue to reflect the needs of users, and we're open to suggestions about how to keep it current and well-organized," she said.
Departments and colleges within Purdue will be able to access templates to design pages that utilize the organization and design of the new home page by going to the Purdue Developer Blog at https://www.purdue.edu/globals/blog.
"We are not telling people they must completely redesign their pages," Hahn said. "The goal here is to present pages that are consistent in navigation and look so that visitors can easily tell as they navigate around the site that they are still within the Purdue system. We’re providing templates to help others who want to make their sites more audience-friendly in relation to the main pages, but the templates can be customized by the area using them."
For more information on templates, contact Ramzy Yazback at (765) 494-2029 or e-mail yazback@purdue.edu.
Writer: Tanya Brown, (765) 494-2079, tanyabrown@purdue.edu
Source: Melanie Hahn, (765) 496-1780, hahnm@purdue.edu
Purdue News Service: (765) 494-2096; purduenews@purdue.edu
PHOTO CAPTION:
Purdue University will unveil a newly redesigned Web site on Saturday (March 29). Features of the new site will include a more powerful and prominent search engine, a simpler format, keyword index and drop-down menus. The new site will be available for use as a link on the current home page until the end of the spring semester when the old site (shown in the inset) will be taken down. The transition period will allow visitors time to familiarize themselves with the new home page.
A publication-quality photo is available at https://www.purdue.edu/uns/images/+2008/newold-comp.jpg
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