The admissions website isn't the only university site getting a new look this summer. Law, Pratt, Duke Chapel and Duke Magazine all got makeovers and the registrar's office and other sites are soon to follow.
In all, more than two dozen university units have unveiled new websites over the past six months. The result is websites that are more cohesive in their representation of the Duke brand, sites that can tell university stories more compellingly, better meet user expectations, provide stronger integration of university sites and present well on the growing number of tablets and mobile devices.
Blyth Morrell of the Office and Marketing and Strategic Communications said website redesign reflects that "technology changes fast, as do users expectations." The office coordinated the redesign of the majority of the websites with Duke units and vendors.
"Every redesign presents the opportunity to update content, style and functionality but it also gives us a moment to examine our technical implementation strategy to ensure that we meet industry standards as well as current design and development trends," Morrell said.
Marketing and Strategic Communications assists Duke units with the redesign process, advising them on branding and vendor issues.
One common theme is that the redesigns provide more cohesive look and messaging across the university. Many of the new sites pull content from other university sites, such as the Duke on Demand video archives and the university calendar, and they push out their own content to other websites.
"The site has a number of new and improved features, a new look, and is easier to navigate," said Melinda Vaughn, director of communications for the School of Law. The school's new site went live this month. "We are particularly happy about our portal pages, which allow faculty, staff, and students quick access to content that meets their specific needs."