Web Communications Group>

Web Communications Group Meeting: 06-14-07
Meeting minutes

I. The meeting began with a preview of the new Penn homepage and Penn Digest web site.

• A brief summary was provided to explain some of the reasons why the current homepage is being revised.
  These include:

  • The "window effect" severely limits the types of image and amount of visual information that can be presented
  • The links on the lower blue navigation bar (arts, athletics,etc.) are not readily recognized by users
  • The link for the Penn Compact is poorly positioned
    



• The homepage is being redesigned to serve these and other purposes, such as:

• To set Penn apart from its peers -- the new design is distinct and high-impact
• To better communicate certain University and branding messages the principles of the Penn Compact, our Ivy League status, we are an urban campus, our diverse student body)
• To convey the concept of "Knowledge Without Boundaries," where Penn is a place of great opportunity and accomplishment on many levels
• To present a more visually compelling picture of the many dimensions of Penn (beautiful campus, exciting and varied research, engaged student body, academics, athletics)
• To draw attention to Making History: The Campaign for Penn  (its logo is prominently placed in the main navigation)

• The new homepage was unveiled to the group.
  • The design presents a series of large photos, each of which has a message laid overtop to add additional impact and relevance to the image.
  • Messages include the principles of the Penn Compact ("Engaging Locally" "Increasing Access") as well as a variety of University branding messages ("Proud Ivy League Tradition" and "A Beautiful Urban Campus").
  
  
• Overall the group responded positively to the design.
  • A version of the design under consideration would present the various homepage images as a slideshow; however, certain group members said they found this type of treatment distracting.
  • A suggestion was made to have the slideshow be an option that users can choose to view by clicking on a button.
  • There was some concern regarding the server load required by a slideshow -- ISC reps said that issue can be resolved by purchasing more bandwidth.
  
  
• The design for the Penn Digest was also presented.
  • The Digest is a new site that will centralize highlight news and event items as occur across the University. With a flexible modular design the Digest has a two-page format, where page one is oriented toward a general audience, while page 2 offers information primarily of interest to faculty and staff. 
  • Items will be added to the Digest via either a CMS or RSS feeds. 

II. The meeting concluded with a presentation by Lizza Robb who showed the group a draft of the new School of Social Policy and Practice web site.   The site features a new design, revisions to the information architecture and uses a CSS layout. Lizza is looking for feedback on the new website.  Any comments or questions can be forwarded to lrobb@sp2.upenn.edu.

Screenshots of Penn's new proposed homepage and Penn Digest

Proposed homepage iterations:

Click on the thumbnail photo or link below to see a larger screenshot.

Homepage--Perpetua text and black news block	Homepage--Frutiger text and black news block
Homepage--Perpetua text with grey news block	Homepage--Frutiger text with gray news block
Homepage--Perpetua text with solid grey news block

Penn Digest iterations:

Option 1
Penn Digest--Page 1	Penn Digest--Page 2

Option 2
Penn Digest--Page 1	Penn Digest--Page 2

Penn Digest Header Background Choices
Penn Digest with plain background	Penn Digest with ivy background
Penn Digest with Ben Franklin background	Penn Digest with gate background
Penn Digest with masked Digest text background

University web standards, guidelines, page templates and logos.

News feeds and RSS information.

View news feeds from around the University in a single, automatically updated page.

Images of the University of Pennsylvania for download.

Penn Perspectives is a series of ongoing conversations with people doing exciting, innovative work at the University of Pennsylvania.

TV Spots: Penn has developed three new TV spots that highlight the University’s long tradition of ingenuity and entrepreneurship.

• Penn Nursing
• School of Arts and Sciences
• Penn Veterinary Medicine
• Wharton School
• Athletics
• Penn Medicine
• Museum of Archaeology and Anthropology