Duke to Launch a New Homepage

The site aims to engage visitors with a range of exciting content from across campus while also offering a robust set of resources

aerial photo by Bill Snead showing a long-distance view of West Campus from East Campus

Duke University is preparing to open a new digital front door Dec. 16, with a fully redesigned duke.edu website. The launch marks the first major update to the homepage in more than a decade. 

The new homepage will showcase Duke’s strategic priorities — student experience; research, science and technology; climate; and Durham and community — in a magazine-style format with themes that rotate quarterly. The format aims to engage visitors with a range of exciting content while also offering a robust set of resources to guide users to their destination.

The first featured theme is “Across Our State.” It reflects the vision of the Duke family to create an institution that strives to do good for our neighbors, friends and family throughout North Carolina.

A Sensory Experience

Each theme is designed to be a sensory experience, with written stories, immersive photography, video and sound all working together to showcase Duke’s strengths, spirit and partnerships in North Carolina and beyond. The themes include perspectives from students, faculty, staff, alumni and community members, connecting homepage visitors to the breadth of Duke’s impact in a fresh and meaningful way.

“This is more than a typical website update,” said Frank Tramble, vice president for communications, marketing and public affairs. “We’re reimagining how our community experiences the Duke brand in a digital space – crafting an environment that reflects who we are, what we value, and the extraordinary breadth of our work. The redesign is a renewed invitation into Duke’s story. Our hope is that every visitor can see themselves here and feel connected to the purpose, creativity and impact that define Duke and connect our community across North Carolina and around the world.”

Over the past 10 years, how people navigate for information online has changed dramatically. Visitors reach content through search engines, social media and other platforms that often reference information drawn from different websites. The new homepage aims to respond to that shift, serving as both a source of reliable information and a destination for storytelling that captures the life and impact of Duke.

Easier Navigation

In addition to the thematic content, visitors will find improvements that make the site easier to use and explore. The navigation has been redesigned with clear, comprehensive landing pages for major sections such as Academics, Research, Campus Life, About Duke and Admissions. Each page will feature easy-to-find information, with direct links to schools, departments and resources across campus.

The search function is also new. It separates results according to people, events and web pages, helping users find information faster and more accurately. 

When the new site launches, visitors will be encouraged to explore it, test its new features, and share their favorite stories. 

“The combination of strong visuals and rich storytelling with a user-friendly design is meant to inspire people to engage, explore and return often,” said Tramble. 

With a clearer structure and more purposeful storytelling, the new homepage also strengthens generative engine optimization by giving AI-driven search tools better signals to accurately represent Duke’s mission and offerings.

Duke invites everyone to visit the new site when it goes live, explore its new features, and share what stands out. The new duke.edu is designed to inform, inspire and represent the best of Duke University.

Check it Out: Before & After