Managing Web Site Redesigns
Margarita Figueroa, Earth Council
May 2001
Web site redesigns or overhauls can be done in several ways. Depending on the internal capacity of the organization, size of content and other resources, the redesign can be done in-house or sub-contracted. Reaching a decision to redesign a Web site is usually based on various underlying factors such as lack or functionality, outdated content, change of technology, change of navigation patterns (such as dynamic database links), change of organizational mandate and structure, etc. It is important to review what state your Web site is in before starting to work on redesigning it and make a list of factors that you would like to change on the Web site. This will give you an idea of how much work will have to go into the redesign.
In some cases a redesign is:
A facelift: if your Web site only needs to update its look (because it's been the same for a long time), it might mean that the content and structure of the Web site is working for the organization. In this case, the redesign entails working on the corporate image while concentrating on communicating your organization's goals creatively through the use of graphics and colours. Keep in mind that the design should reflect the original goals and that the visual aids (photographs, diagrams, buttons, headings, etc.) can help communicate the message of each section of your site.
An update: it is also possible that your Web site has effective graphics and its structure is working well for the organization but the information on the Web site has remained static. In this case it is more productive to work on the content of the site than to spend time thinking on the changing other elements. Don't fix something that is not broken. You could add periodical information, like a news section or a new publication section, this should help the site maintain the audience interested.
Complete overhaul: Whether you need to overhaul the whole site or only a section of it, the redesign needs to be planned carefully. You should recommend working with a team on this project to help you plan the redesign and share decision making for how much time and money the organization will put into it. In this planning process, you will decide on the structure of the content, the information architecture, the technological aspects of the Web site, and the maintenance and financial aspects of the new Web site. You will need time and patience for this kind of redesign, but it will be worth it once you and your organization start seeing the results.
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