Redesigning a large and complex website: how to begin, and a method for success

• Authors: Elaine Chou
• Venue: SIGUCCS '02 Proceedings of the 30th annual ACM SIGUCCS conference on User services
• Year: 2002

In a technology-oriented, information-intense world, one of the largest challenges facing higher education is the organization, communication, and presentation of information in a coherent and usable fashion via the world wide web. The Learning Team, a part of Information Technology at the College of William and Mary, offers vision and a solution for developing a robust web-based information architecture to centrally administer customized learning modules and services as well as promote web-based training initiatives.This paper focuses on the redesign of the large and complex technology-related Learning Team website, contrasting the design and structure of the old 3,000+ page Learning Team web architecture with the newly-developed site-- from conception in November 2001 to completion in June 2002. Directing the web redesign process, we took a team-oriented approach consisting of several staff and student employees. In this session, I will guide attendees through our product workflow processes from website conception, content presentation, storyboarding, navigational and schematic design, as well as delivery of content to well-conceived webpage layout and usability techniques. I will provide hands-on exercises of our content inventory process, task analysis, "card sorting" techniques as well as "paper prototype" testing.Web designers, developers, trainers, and those interested in creating an effective web presence may find this discussion particularly useful. Participants delivering services over the web, evaluating student employment, assessing the changing needs for services, or interested in providing preventive technical solutions and support to faculty and staff may also find this paper helpful.At its completion, readers will gain: (1) practical knowledge of how to redesign a large and complex website, (2) an understanding of usability practices and some core usability techniques, and (3) exposure to user-centered design. I will share tips and lessons learned as well as practical issues and solutions for developing a solid information architecture and for implementing web standards.