New uWaterloo Homepage
Site Information Sessions
July 11 & 17, 2012
Digital Initiatives,
Communications and
Public Affairs
Introductions
Digital initiatives team
• Eva Grabinski, Director, Digital Initiatives
• Chris Carignan, Manager, Information Architecture &
User Experience
• Jonathan Woodcock, Manager, Digital Communications
& Content Strategy
• Andrea Sweet, Manager, Web Design
• Aaron Miller, Manager, Social Media & Community
Engagement
Acknowledgements
• Communications & Public Affairs (CPA) colleagues
• Communications Council members
• Web Content Management System (WCMS) team
Why a new uWaterloo homepage
• Leverage the web as a primary communications vehicle
• Support the university’s strategic objectives via the web
• Meet web accessibility standards & requirements
• Move to a site that works effectively on mobile devices
• Account for feedback on usability & content / context
• Ensure resources to support a robust & changing site
(evidence-based decision making; not print)
Web design implementation process
Web content strategy
Wireframe
• Based on web content strategy
Web design
• Based on wireframe
• Supporting web content strategy
Audiences
Objectives
Vision
Web content strategy
Vision – web content strategy
Convey what uWaterloo is about (context / content)
The University of Waterloo homepage should reflect the essence of
Waterloo’s brand: it should be dynamic, modern, unconventional, and
showcase how Waterloo’s innovative spirit, through our connectedness,
builds a better future for Canada and the world.
Account for user experience (UX)
The homepage should be a model of “working well”, a top-of-class
example of a university website with clear navigation, useful search,
compliant accessibility, and ease of use for our audiences, who should
expect the best in web / digital presence from uWaterloo that includes
design / adaptation for efficient mobile use.
Objectives – web content strategy
1. To reflect the university’s aspirations to achieve a level of excellence in research and teaching
comparable to and compatible with the top 100 universities in the world
2. To support the goals outlined in the Sixth Decade Plan and including: enhancing the quality of the
student experience; international engagement; global leadership in undergraduate co-
operative education; research impact; demonstrated leadership in selected areas of
teaching and research; enhancing communications with stakeholders
3. To create a clearer understanding of what Waterloo is and does, and to position Waterloo as
distinctive because of a culture of innovation, creativity and risk taking (a dynamic
environment); a commitment to connection and collaboration with private and public sector; a
commitment to societal relevance
4. To attract and retain the best and brightest faculty, staff and students
5. To support the university’s achievement of its fundraising goals by enhancing relationships and
connection with key stakeholder groups
6. To foster an internal culture of connection and shared identity
Audiences – web content strategy
• Future Students
• Students
• Alumni
• Faculty
• Staff
• Employers
• Governments and private sector
• Donors and prospective donors
• Parents
• Media
Key: A lot of time is spent at
this phase to ensure that the
new homepage design aligns
with the content strategy
Wireframe
New uWaterloo homepage design
Global header
New About Waterloo
site to align with new
homepage design:
uwaterloo.ca/about
About Waterloo website
New links:
• uwaterloo.ca/offices-services
• uwaterloo.ca/faculties-academics
Directories pages
• 3 feature stories
• Social media & search engine optimization (SEO)
• Web content strategy & editorial calendar
Feature stories
• Highlights facts & figures
• Aligns with content strategy
• Counters count up to final #s
Facts & figures
• Highlights innovation at Waterloo
• Conveys impact & relevance
• Can change w/ editorial calendar
Homepage headline
Areas
• Innovations
• Connections
• Impact
• Global view
Positioning stories
• Houses positioning stories
(or teasers)
• Phased approach to design
• Users can sort stories by:
– Positioning areas
– Research themes
– Subjects
– Faculties/campus
• Categories for sorting tied
to content strategy
Stories website
Audience panels
Audience pathway pages
Promotes timely news
• At uwaterloo.ca/news
• On faculty sites
• In the Daily Bulletin
• In the media
• On Twitter
News
Highlights uWaterloo events
• At uwaterloo.ca/events
• On sites university wide
Events
Calls-to-action
Global footer
Social media directory
Waterloo web space look
? ?
Questions