College of Engineering - August 2014 Website Retrospective

College of EngineeringRetrospective on Redesign Process

College of Engineering - Communicator’s Meeting - August 2014

CoE ThemeReady for prime-time!

• Soft-Launched on July 29 2014.

CoE Website is Live!

By The Numbers

~6,000Approximate unique visitors in a week

By The Numbers

15,000Pages served to end-users

By The Numbers

25%Users browse the website using a mobile or tablet device

Available for Usage!• Theme is available for the schools in CoE• Contact me to download components!

• Components:• 1) GT College of Engineering Theme• 2) Helper Module/Plugin• 3) Sub Theme Starter Kit

Themes Working Together!• Themes provide styling and design adjustments

• Does not provide structure or hierarchical elements• The CoE theme inherits the GT theme, which can be extended!

GT Theme GT CoE Theme Your Theme!

Let’s Meet• Feel free to contact me to discuss any

aspect of a web development/redesign process!

• Redesign Steps• Development Practices• Working with a Firm• Drupal 101• Campus Best Practices• (I’m sure there’s more than this!)

Our RedesignLooking Back on Development, Processes

A Quick Note• We are still developing the website!

• Iterative development cycle• Changes, bugs, additions• Security updates & patches

• Learning from the past to develop new pages, features, and functionality

Development ProcessPreliminary

Web Developer creates a site map to detail existing site organization and design.Client and Web Developer have initial meeting to discuss site goals, needs, and purpose.Client adjusts site map to simulate site organization and design.Client and Web Developer have meeting to agree on website features and front page design.Web Developer creates a site mockup to simulate site layout.Client and Web Developer communicate to revise and adjust the site mockup.Client selects faculty or staff members as site editors.

DesignWeb Developer develops site theme, layout, and structure.Client prepares and updates existing site content.Web Developer delivers a completed site theme, layout, and structure.

IntegrationWeb Developer provides training to site editors on updating and adding content to the site.Client adds and updates content to the site.Web Developer adjusts site theme, layout, and structure as necessary.

ReviewClient determines a suitable time for site migration.Communicators copy-edits site pages and content.Web Developer prepares site for migration.

MigrationWeb Developer migrates site to its permanent location.Web Developer checks site for defects, bugs, and issues.Web Developer makes site redesign active.

Things We Learned• 1) Broken Links will happen

• Think about approaches to solving, mitigating issues.

• 2) Communicate development• Faculty and staff may depend on the

website for particular content.• 3) Develop, Test, and Roll Out

• Staging environments for new features are crucial to a smooth rollout.

• 4) Soft Launch • Test out the deployment and focus

on squashing 0-Day Issues

DemoQuick highlights and features!

Let’s ChatQuestions, Comments, Concerns, Discussions about Web Redesigns