one size fits none: remaking a college site for a content hungry generation

Remaking a College Site for a Content Hungry Generation

ONESIZEFITSNONE

Ardis Kadiu Chief Creative Technologist Spark451

Christopher JonesDirector of Web Communications North Central College

Content is a design problem. Good web design starts with content. Jeffrey Zeldman“

Expectations and Behavior

TODAY’S PROSPECTIVE STUDENTS

mobile usage

Source: Spark451 College Bound Survey (http://collegebound.spark451.com)

google effect

mobile usage

Source: Spark451 College Bound Survey (http://collegebound.spark451.com)

Source: “Engaging and Cultivating Millennials and Gen Z,” Denison University and Ologie

Source: Cowen & Company ”ShopTalk Conference Takeaways: A Glimpse Into The Future of Retail & eCommerce”

WHAT IS HAPPENING IN THE MARKETPLACE ?

Source: QS Digital Solutions “Digital Marketing Trends in Higher Education 2016”

Source: QS Digital Solutions “Digital Marketing Trends in Higher Education 2016”

OUR CHALLENGE

PROCESS

DefineDiscover Design Develop

There are many website pages that are no longer used and are out of

date. The navigation/search menu is poor and needs to be updated. Many

things could be archived because they aren't relevant today.

”User Survey Response from

Staff/Administrator

What users said about the current site.

The biggest thing is the organization. Clean things up and it will be more

user-friendly. Websites are sometimes the first impression.

“User Survey Response from

a Current Student

When you were deciding which college or graduate school to attend, what information on college websites did you look for the most?

Source: Online User Survey

Academic Majors/Minors

#1 #2Financial Aid & Scholarships

#3Campus Location

APPROACH

Spotify app default screen

Netflix catalog

z

Netflix show page

z

Amazon homepage

z

Amazon product page

z

Apple App Store main page

z

CENTRAL SOLUTION

STACKS

A stack is a cohesive collection of content cards. They can be the same type of content (like news) or related topic, like education or the arts.

Campus News Education (article, study abroad

story, internship, event, profile)

Fastest Growing (programs)

Types of Stacks

Group Stack • Collection of "cards"

connected by similar topic or type

• "Cards" include title, fact, quote, image

List Stack • “Cards” of …

• content types (e.g. programs, news, events)

• social feeds

• factoids, promos

• video/image

Profile Stack • Title, department

• Interests

• Quote

• Photo

Program Stack • Essentials: title,

degree options, department

• Career-related: jobs, job outlook, salary, internships

Demo

QUESTIONS?