Web Redesign Project

The Study

Participants were asked to put 60 items currently on the college homepage into categories. The actual instructions, suggested categories, and items used in the study are presented here.

The Instructions

WELCOME:
As an early step in the redesign of the Williams website, we’re conducting an online card sort, which will give us insights into how users want to find content on the homepage. You don’t need to be savvy in web design or development. We just want to know what content you think belongs on the homepage and how you would organize it. You can expect the exercise to take about half an hour.

INSTRUCTIONS:
On the left is a list of items that currently appear on our homepage (hover your mouse over an item for more details). On the right are some general categories into which some of the items might fall. We’ve suggested these categories as a way to simplify the compilation of results, but you are welcome to create your own categories in addition to or in place of ours.

Click on an item in the left and drag it over to the right, either into an existing category/box or a space anywhere else on the page (this will create a box for a new group, with your item inside it). Repeat with the remaining items, grouping the ones that belong together into as many boxes as you think are necessary. Then click on the heading area of any boxes you’ve created to give them names.

When you’re all finished, click “I’m Done!”

Which items belong together?
Think of where you would look first to find these items on a website.

How many groups should I have?
There’s no right or wrong number. If a group seems too large, you could consider whether to break it into smaller groups.

Can I suggest other items for the homepage?
Yes! Click the “Leave a comment” link at the top of the sort page and include any suggestions there.

What if I think some items don’t belong on the homepage at all?
Leave those items in the column on the left.

You can return to these instructions at any time by clicking the “Instructions” link at the top of the sort page.

Suggested Categories

Participants could use these categories or create their own. (See Categories Gone Wild)

About Williams
Academics
Admission
Administration
Faculty
Parents
Staff
Students
Visitors
Alumni
Donors
Directories
News
Events

The Items

Each participant was presented with the same items in random order. Descriptions appeared when a participant moused over an item.

Item Description (rollover)
Admission homepage tours & information sessions, about financial aid, application info
Webmail log-in for Williams email account holders
Financial Aid Admission Office: financial aid overview for prospective students
’62 Center calendar events are also included in Campus Calendar
Campus Calendar includes music, theatre, dance, athletic, student events, and ongoing exhibitions
WCMA calendar events are also included in Campus Calendar
Music Dept calendar events are also included in Campus Calendar
Academic Calendars Registrar’s Office: calendars for the next three years
A-Z Index alphabetical list of department, office, program and service websites
History & Traditions Archives: Williams history
Academic Centers links include: Academic Resources, CES, CDE, Oakley Center, museum, libraries, etc.
Departments & Programs majors, concentrations, other curricular opportunities, graduate programs
People Directory pictures, office and home contact information for faulty & staff, campus info for students
Department/Office Directory printable directory with office locations, phone and fax numbers
Arts at Williams information, news, and events about music, dance, theatre, museum
Sports Information rosters, results, news, schedules for varsity teams; events are also included in Campus Calendar
Bookstore Water Street Books: ordering (faculty), selling and buy back (students) of college textbooks
Campus Map Google map with locations and addresses of campus buildings
College Administration President’s Office: organization chart of offices that report to senior staff
Communications Office responsible for news releases, College Calendar, Daily Messages, Fast Facts
Conference Office year-long recruiting for summer conferences
Course Catalog Registrar’s Office: list of courses offered
Daily Messages internal messages to/from students, faculty & staff (read by Williams email account holders)
Dean of the College responsible for academic and non-academic aspects of student life
Employment Human Resources: non-student job opportunities
Especially for Alumni Alumni Office: alumni, development, events, volunteering, travel, Alumni Review
Especially for Faculty & Staff links to items of interest to employees: Academics, Event Planning, Information, Resources
Especially for Parents Parents site: information events, resources, support & volunteer opportunities
Especially for Students list of links to items of interest to students: Academics, Activities, Information, Services
Visitors Guide driving directions, restaurants & lodging in the area, transportation, things to do in the area, campus map
Faculty Experts Communications Office: topics about which faculty are willing to share their expertise with the press
Faculty Notes news of publications, grants, awards, etc. submitted by faculty
Fast Facts Communications Office: statistics about the college, it’s faculty, students, staff, alumni, facilities, finances, etc.
Giving to Williams Alumni Office: Alumni Fund, Parents Fund, ways to give
Honor System student-run committee determines Honor Code violations; advice and information
I Am Williams Diversity Initiative project: images link to project site
Information Technology computing information, software downloads, help desk for students and faculty/staff
Libraries Sawyer Library, Schow Science Library, Archives & Special Collections, Chapin Library of Rare Books
Multimedia podcasts, video
News Releases Communications Office: news about the college, its people, and programs
Publicity Communications Office: how to publicize your events
Registrar Registrar’s Office: academic calendars, course catalog, registration
Room Scheduler internal form to reserve a room for an event
Social links Twitter, Facebook, YouTube, Flickr
Williams in the News Communications Office: references to Williams-related people in the global, national and local press
Sustainability reports/charts of green efforts on campus; link to Zilkha Center
Tours & Information Sessions Admission Office: campus tours and information sessions schedule
Applying to Williams Admission Office: application information for prospective students
Mission & Purposes Archives: mission & purposes
Presidents Arhives: bios of Williams presidents
Dean of the Faculty responsible for faculty and curriculum
Calendars links to Campus Calendar, ’62 Center, Museum (WCMA), Music calendars
Especially for Donors links to: online giving, Alumni & Parents funds, planned giving, corporation & foundation relations
Especially for Visitors links to: Visitors Guide, non-student employment (HR), and Admission
Building Addresses links directory to Campus Map
Alumni Directory Alumni Office: log-in page
Featured Events direct links to a handful of selected events on the College Calednar
Athletics links to Sports Information website
Search Williams search the williams.edu domain
Prospective Students Admission Office homepage

Next: Categories Gone Wild