EDU Checkup

Site Scores:

Today’s Tip:

Web is not print, you have so much freedom on the web to use your content to interact with your users eyes. Pages have the ability to use type, spacing, images and copy to loose the user in the experience of the page. Designing on a grid is great but breaking the grid every once and a while can make for a playful and fun experience.

Site Scores:

Today’s Tip:

Don’t make your users backtrack, if they think they are going to specific information that they already filtered through don’t send them to a previous page. When linking off to program information link directly to the program information and not to the department homepage. In addition if you are going to put your program list online, go all out and put all the information online. There is no need to hide information form the user, your site should be self servicing, letting your users get content 24/7.

Site Scores:

Today’s Tip:

The mobile web is expanding every day. It is important to make your content available to those phones is crucial. If you can customize your page display to be optimized for specific phones your users will thank you. The few major mobile browsers should be your primary targets but at least a base mobile browser view would work. Even if you aimed for just your content without all the fluff it would be a great first step.

Site Scores:

Today’s Tip:

If you are linking to a PDF or a document that you don’t know what is going to happen when they click the link always make sure to signify what type of file they are clicking on. Regular HTML web pages open the browser, other files you cannot guarantee how they are going to open or what the user is going to see. Letting them know up front will prepare them for the experience after the click.

Episode Links:

• Website Redesign Boot Camp: What you need to know before jumping into a redesign project: April 21, 22 & 23, 2009