Since the new brand will launch with the introduction of the Admissions campaign in the Fall, EM2 recommended to us the development of an interim microsite to serve as a branded gateway of top-level information about Hope. The microsite can be planned and developed faster to coincide with the Fall Admissions cycle and provide brand consistency while we begin planning the redevelopment of our full website. The information will be more promotional, highlight key messages and provide direct links to our existing site for more detailed information. The microsite will be developed as a self-contained module with its own content management system.
As with any web project, successful microsite development depends on a strong needs assessment. As part of EM2’s work in the web discovery phase, they are helping us to determine the scope of the project and the level of functionality needed.
We have just signed off on the strategy and functional recommendations which outline strategic content and functionality, page types and wireframes, and navigation and site architecture.
Think of wireframes as a visual guide that represents the skeletal framework of a website. The wireframe depicts the page layout or arrangement of the website’s content, including interface elements and navigational systems, and how they work together. It is important to have a handle of this basic blueprint before the design phase begins.
At this point we have defined the scope of the project to include:
- Hope.edu homepage
- Admissions (entire site)
- About Hope
- Academics
- The Arts
- Athletics
- Campus Offices
- HopeToday
- Alumni
- Parents
- Advancement
All of these areas with the exception of Admissions will only include a redesign of the section fronts, not the entire site.
EM2 will be presenting three page types in two sets of which we’ll be able to choose a direction and provide feedback. In July we will be working with EM2’s web partner, MediaCurrent Interactive Solutions, to begin back-end programming of the site. Page build begins in August and we are planning to launch the site on or around August 30, 2011.
There’s a lot of work ahead, so we better get to work!
— Submitted by Jason Cash, Campaign Associate for College Advancement