September 14, 2009
Meet the new jhu.edu: Revamped Web site debuts
Johns Hopkins sports a new virtual front door.
The university this weekend went live with its new home page, the first stage of a complete Web site overhaul.
Many key site pages have been updated, with more to follow during the next several weeks.
The new www.jhu.edu features enhanced navigation and search capabilities and an easy-to-use structure to allow visitors to quickly find what they’re looking for.
The design incorporates an innovative drop-down navigation sheet that gives visitors a sense of the scope—and organization—of the university at a glance. It also provides a prominent space on the home page for the university’s schools, divisions and centers.
Previously, visitors to the site were faced with at least three different navigation zones. Now, all navigation has been organized across the top of every page, with key areas clustered together.
A prominent feature on the home page will be up to 12 rotating stories that represent aspects of the JHU experience. New stories will appear on a regular schedule throughout the year.
Because of the complexity of JHU’s Web presence, the site will be tweaked in the coming weeks as work to re-skin and restructure all the pages continues. At launch, 85 percent of the site had been converted to the new design.
The site was created by the university’s Office of Marketing and Creative Services, with visual design assistance from an outside firm, Interactive Technologies.
—Greg Rienzi