We officially begin the soft launch of our new website today. In fact, you can already go to http://preview.wm.edu to see the new site. Readers of this blog are perhaps finding out about the soft launch address early, before our provost sends a message about it to the campus.
If you’ve been to a soft opening of a restaurant, then you probably get the idea of a soft launch. Giving W&M faculty, staff and students a chance to preview the new site is a lot like being invited to a pre-opening of a new restaurant - when the staff are still in training. You can tell it’s going to be great – but they’re still working out the kinks.
Our new website is mostly done but during the next 10 days we’ll put on some finishing touches and fine tune some things. And, to continue the metaphor, like a restaurant, we’ll have some specials on opening day.
http://preview.wm.edu
posted by Susan Evans
10 comments:
I'm impressed! It is visually appealing.
very nicely done. I like all the pictures.
The upcoming events are listed backwards with the soonest at the bottom instead of at the top where it belongs. In almost all cultures people read from top to bottom.
The events listing is one of the items we are working on right now. Our plan all along has been to display them "soonest at the top." We just couldn't make that happen for soft launch. 8 days and counting!
Susan Evans
what is the time table for other departments to change over? when will you start offering training sessions? i love the new look!
Very nice!
As soon as we get the official site launched and take a breath ... we'll start planning and communicating about transitioning more departments and providing Cascade training.
Why is the new logo nowhere to be seen on the new site?
A style book for the use of the William & Mary logo and other College marks is currently under development. Once the style book is final and approved, we will review the guidelines for College marks on the web and make any necessary changes to the new website.
Hello, I'm a student here at the college and I really feel like the main page is too busy and disorganized looking. I love the rest of the pages and designs, but the numerous bars and photos are distracting and messy looking making the main page look like an amateur blog. I feel like this page should represent who we are as a college to prospective students, alumni, and current members of the college, but I do not feel like it's doing so at the moment. I feel like if the "About, Academics, Admissions...etc" bar were placed up underneath the "Information for" bar and if the "Events and News" were placed on the side, it'd look a lot more professional. Or just even having the news on the side and events in the middle at the bottom. Also, I think the "News" text should look more professional. The green may be fine, but the font should change. The whole main page just looks very cut and paste collage like to me. Overall, the rest of it is wonderful! I hope this helps.
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