Sneak Peek at CUinfo redesign
Here’s a screen shot of what the re-skinning of CUinfo will look like:
If you click on it, it will enlarge. Be warned that the big image is BIG and you’ll have to scroll to see it all. This will also be the case with the page, once it’s live.
In this initial phase of the project, all functionality will remain intact on CUinfo. We’re really just making it look more like cornell.edu. Future phases will re-examine content. Details on that to come.
Also: the images on the page are place-holders only. We’ll find stuff that is more topical before going live.
Questions? Comments? Gripes?
Lisa
Off the topic comment, the Cornell Club of NYC site is most definitely in violation of the logo guidelines.
Do away with the pictures please. The best part about the CUinfo site now is its simplicity and compactness, how it doesn’t need to be scrolled (much) to see the whole thing. I would really appreciate it if it were kept that way. Thanks.
About the scrolling: what Jen said. Also, please make the search function much bigger and more visible. Right now it’s dark red on lighter red and stuck in a corner. Who’s gonna see it? The “CUInfo” label is much bigger than the search field and associated images.
Consider adding a “search this page for…” function, and brief descriptions of the content of each link in mouseover images, because there is way too much info on either the new or the old page, even for experienced users to cope with.
Please keep the page Flash-free and compatible with all browser types.
Both the old and the new pages are, sorry, visually pretty boring. Just the same, cuinfo is my home page & will stay that way, because it links to just about everything important on campus, and doesn’t slow me down with a login as uportal does.
Thanks, developer team, for soliciting our comments!
I agree with Jen and JB. Example: Google is one of the most popular search sites, in part because the site loads almost instantly and what-you-need-is-what-you-get, no more no less. We don’t need the clutter or download for pictures, even though they are visually appealing.
I like it.
Agreeing with Jen, JB, and Sara – CUinfo is for current Cornell community members, not the general public. Its primary goal should always be to provide the information and links we need in the fastest way possible for us. Instant loading time, intuitive organization, intuitively-named links (especially for those of us who use Firefox/Opera/other find-as-you-type enabled browsers) are far more important than graphic appeal. Although, don’t get me wrong, I _love_ the new look and am very excited to see it brought to CUinfo.
I agree. The constituents of CUinfo do not need Cornell sold to them with visuals – they’re already part of the community. I like the general format, but it can be kept simple and on one page.
Why not use the header you are using for this blog? It would get more content on the screen — and load faster.
If you use the shorty header, maybe look at adding a search box to search cornell in the main part of the page.
You probably don’t need so much intro text. You probably don’t need intro text at all, really. Just gets in the way. The main audience gets it.
I also agree about killing the photos. They get in the way here.
Although I too think the photos could be done away with and the search option enlarged, I really like it. It is a much more polished and pleasant look withouth undermining the utilitarian aspect of the site. I also like that the links are grouped in columns, it makes them easier to read. Another idea: how about adding the current temperature in Ithaca at the top and linking it to the weather page?
Thank you very much for your interest in our comments!
No pictures please. Get rid of the picture of Willard Straight Hall and the other pictures.
No pictures and no scrolling please! Everything should fit on one page. The site now is great but just needs the new header and logo.
Thanks for considering our feedback!
Dude,
Why is the Welcome written in Greek?
Kill the pictures at the very least. Anything that can be done to minimize scrolling is also appreciated. Remember, the name of the game is simplicity! That aside, though, I like it.
Pros: looks cleaner and *seems* easier to use, which may not be the same as *is* easier to use.
I agree with a number of the fore-mentioned concerns: No pictures, little scrolling, fast loading, need to see the ‘search’ fields more prominently, preferably in the non-banner area. There also seems to be valuable real estate taken by the sub-headings. The welcome or the “CUinfo” heading could be smaller or combined, so as to give “most used links” more room. One way to really make effective use of the top 30% of the page is to include links from A-Z, so that users may quickly opt to view the material on totally alphabetically, if they so wish. See this example:
http://www.brown.edu/web/az.shtml
Another way to make more effective use of the top area is to move the “search and directory” section on the top left up, and incorporate the web/people Search Field into that. I usually go to CUinfo because I want to look something up, not because I want to scan my tired eyes across the screen. Most of all, I would not wish to search for how to search.
On another alphabetical note, it seems odd that the most used links section and news & events is not alphabetized like the rest.
Thanks for taking comments into account.
I agree with most of the comments. The current page is much better: much easier and more efficient to use.
Get rid of the pictures. Get rid of the wasteful columns. the less scrolling required, the better. keep it simple. move all the links up. use a thin header.
I agree with the major themes of the comments already here (no pictures, less scrolling, targeting Cornell members, etc.), so I’ll only add. In the current CUInfo, I like the bolding aspect a lot, but wish the ‘Campusl Store’ link were also bolded. In fact, I like the larger font as it’s easier to read.
I strongly advise to NOT do the alphabetization. The current categorization method is just fine.
I also find myself searching for ‘People’ more often than ‘Websites’ in the current search function, so maybe put the ‘People’ search option first on the drop-down list.
Maybe, re: the current one CUInfo, you can use a table/grid to separate the different links from each other in the current organization method. Sometimes when I’m scanning through the links I miss what I’m looking for, but I like the current compactness.
Thanks for leaving this open to suggestions.
The main problem today with cuinfo is the horizontal organization of the links: people need to read the whole line from left to right to find the link they are looking for. This is also partially because window widths vary, so the location of a link changes from one session to the other.
Organizing all links in vertical columns will fix this problem: people will only need to scan the first character or two of each link to get to what they are looking for.
Good job, and I agree with all the previous comments: no pictures, no scrolling, etc.
Hi! I think the CUInfo looks fabulous! Great job, although I do have a few comments outside of agreeing with the comments made by previous posters. I think that Student Life & Academics should be closer to the top since that is probably going to something that most Cornell students go to CUInfo for – find final infos, course infos, etc. Also, could you include a link to Blackboard and Webmail/Uportal? Thanks!
The pictures are a waste of space for Cornell students. However, I really like the most used links list at the top.
Sorry, but it is has no soul. Far too slick, and just another Cornell webpage instead of the homey but pleasing current offering of Cuinfo. Indeed, as others have said, kill all the terrible pictures and scrolling.
I agree with a lot of the feedback, especially regarding getting rid of the pictures and the need for scrolling. (However, I did like the ivy leaves at the top of the old CUinfo.) The reason I use CUinfo for everything Cornell is because it is so easy to to get anywhere in the cornell.edu world.
While it’s nice to have a consistent image with the rest of Cornell’s webpages, CUinfo is primarily for insiders — Cornell students, staff, faculty — and doesn’t have to be glammed up with pictures.
Thank you!
Very nice. Kill the pics and you’ll have it!
Ditch the pictures. I use CUINFO to get fast, easy access to information. The pictures are useless, take long to load and fill the screen so you have to scroll. Try using EZ-Remote instead of your high speed connections and you’ll hate the pictures as much as I do. I think the current CUINFO page is fine the way it is.
I agree totally when Jen said: Do away with the pictures please. The best part about the CUinfo site now is its simplicity and compactness, how it doesn’t need to be scrolled (much) to see the whole thing. I would really appreciate it if it were kept that way. Thanks.
It’s pretty, but… the old cuinfo is much more practical, and much nicer to use. Can you enlarge the search, and put it in a more prominent place? And (as said above) we really don’t need pictures.
The new design looks boring and corporate. Keep the old one!
The existing design is pleasant, clean, and easy to navigate. If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it!
I agree with most people about no pictures and no scrolling. Further I really like the themed designs for fall, spring, summer, winter, dragonday, christmas etc. It would be nice if the themes will remain when the new lay-out is up. It gives it a homey feel that most people like I think, and it also in agreement with the comment that cuinfo is for ‘in-house’-use.
The current site *is* homey and really has character (seasons etc). Pages showcasing Cornell to outside world need to glisten, but not CUInfo. Would it be so outlandish to incorporate the sample’s best aspects into the existing site? The vertical bullets are great- incorporate them and other improvements you’re mulling over with the existing design. Thank you!
Yup, the scrolling and pix are too much. And the sterile corporate look doesn’t work well on a student/faculty/staff community page. I apprecite the way it ties in to the rest of the Cornell identity, but for internal use seeing Cornell in a hip, quirkier format would make me happier than another glossy, corporate webpage. And functionality is very important — efficiency is paramount.
There aren’t enough pictures! I say the more the merrier…..in fact, why even have links with text…just make each photo representative of the link and people can click on those to get where they are going. Do away with all that text!
It looks like an off-the-shelf blog template. Why make people scroll around so much? There’s nothing wrong with having a functional text-based frontpage like the current one. Going for the ‘white space’ and content sorted by clusters look is SO what-everybody-is doing, and it makes Cornell look a trend chaser.
Changes should address real needs or opportunities to improve functionality and/or delight. Just going to a generic bloggy look for the sake of making a change isn’t a good idea.
I say, what are you doing to my beloved CUINFO?
I like the format…. pictures could go.
Another vote for no pictures, compact organization.
No pictures, please. They load too slowly for dialup users.
I think everyone is in agreement – no pictures and keep the scrolling to a minimum. Also, the red on red search is not very visible. The box would probably work best in white on the red background. A little red goes a long way.
I really like the way the old CUInfo looks. I liked how the graphics changed with the seasons, holidays and happenings on the campus. Like many before me, it should be a warmer less corporate, cookie-cutter look because this is for the community that works and learns at Cornell, not the outside world. Show the creative side of Cornell and here is the perfect place to do it. Just change the Cornell logo on the page – never did like the JCPenney box anyways.
I’ve always found CUInfo very confusing to navigate. While the new design separates the categories a bit better, it is still very crowded. Also, I don’t like the fact that everything is a link – at least take off the underlining.
Unlike most of the people up above, I do like the pictures. I think they break up the monotony of links nicely. Also, I can never get tired of professional photos of Cornell’s scenery.
I would suggest making drop-down menus for each section. Or, alternatively, let people customize their CUInfo pages by choosing the links they use the most appear up on top or in the center, with everything else following down below.
By the way, I was very (pleasantly) surprised to read the welcome address in Russian!
Molodci, rebyata! 
Thanks for doing the redesign! The current CUInfo is a huge improvement from the one previous to it, but I think it’s time for a redesign. I personally do not the the look of the current one. The graphics look very amateur. It feels more so because the website is still not as functional as it ought to be. It is really hard to find the appropriate link.
The redesign looks much more professional and cleaner, but I agree that it is not making improvements in the right direction. First of all, I don’t like the cornell.edu style graphics at all. I’m sorry – I love professional photos of Cornell too, but the ones with the students are cheesy. It seems like every campus has the same picts (students on the grass, student looking through microscope or holding a test tube, etc.). Secondly, like many have said already – PLEASE, no scrolling! Thirdly, I don’t think a Welcome message is necessary – it is just wasting valuable space at the top of the page. The people who access this page use is very very often and are not new to it. I do like that the search options are buttons and not a scroll-down in the redesign (people prefer clicking) – although I hope the buttons aren’t so tiny that it’s easy to miss on the first click.
An example of a simple campus website is http://web.mit.edu
(Front page images are updated everyday and reflect the day’s spotlight; maybe we could take this idea and use pro picts of campus (seasonal even) instead, which get randomly chosen as a background upon reloading).
If there are too many links to put in an organized way on one page, I would make the top of the page (the part that shows up on the screen when accessed) an abbreviated table of contents style with main categories and frequently used links only. The main categories can be linked to anchors at the bottom of the page, which will guide the user to right place quickly if he/she wants to find a link that is not frequently used. I would not suggest a drop-down menu because it requires dragging, which people won’t like for the same reason that they don’t like scrolling.
Sorry about the lengthiness. I appreciate the redesign effort. Thanks!
Why’s the welcome like that?
Overall, the current CUInfo is indeed homey, just hard to use.
That said, while the new design is appreciated, I agree with the no scrolling, pics, schmaltzy stuff. I agree with the above comment that the MIT site is no-frills but smart and effective without be more about form rather than function. There is nothing worse than being a slave to form. A lot of kudos could be garnered for thinking totally out of the box.
In respond to the suggestion of the drop-down menu… that gets two thumbs down. That’s another step of looking for something you know you know is there or you know you don’t know is there. You know?