University Facilities has relaunched its website with a design that is tailored to better suit our customers. The approach is one where we constantly asked ourselves, “What does someone want or need from our site, and how can we get them there as quickly as possible?” We also sought to modernize not just the look of our web page but how it functions as well, with a site that is viewable across devices, whether you’re on a PC, tablet, or smart phone.
A front-page focused on what you’re looking for.
Our previous design was many years old, and our front page was a mash-up of many different kinds of content. By using Google Analytics and feedback from specific groups of users, we rebuilt our front page with a focus on specific points of interest. Our web traffic alone showed us that the majority of our customers visit University Facilities for three reasons: 1) to submit a work order request 2) to view information on upcoming and on-going capital projects and 3) to find information about Building Security Coordinators.
In response, we’ve given these sections prime real-estate so they’re the first things our visitors see. We consider these our “top links,” and unlikely to change so you can expect them to be there, easy to find with a single click. A section called Additional Resources includes quick jumps to oft-used resources such as Building Floor Plans, Renovations and Permits, and My Work Orders. One brand-new feature in this section is called “Documents and Forms,” which leads users to our Documents Repository. Here visitors can quickly search for any form or document that is also linked elsewhere on our website. Upcoming Events lists the day’s happenings, scheduled outages and campus disruptions that may affect our customers. Finally, we receive compliments from our customers and we reflect that by recognizing outstanding University Facilities staff members.
We used traffic analysis, feedback and our best judgment to decide what should remain on our front page. However, chances are we’ve moved something you’re accustomed to seeing. Our site navigation is now always present at the top of the browser, providing quick access to all services and departments from anywhere on the site. All search results are limited to the Facilities website, with no results leading to other Clemson pages. We’ve also created a comprehensive Contact page which attempts to aid you in reaching the person, place or thing that you’re looking for.
Our site now uses a responsive design that can be viewed in any browser. Whether you’re using a PC, a tablet or a smartphone, all content is automatically formatted to fit your device with a look that’s easy-on-the-eyes and your browser.
In some cases, you may run across content that still uses our previous web design. Rest assured that we’re busy transitioning old content to the new look, but taking our time to ensure that what gets ported is curated to meet our goal to get our customers where they want to go in the shortest time possible.
Please let us know what you think about our new design, particularly if you are unable to find a piece of content you are accustomed to seeing on our site. Our best estimate as to how to present ourselves to our customers may not suit the needs of all visitors, and we want to know how we can serve you better.
