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Strath.ac.uk - One site or many?

Strath.ac.uk - One site or many?

With so many departments, faculties, schools and research groups online, can strath.ac.uk really be thought of as one site? Is it realistic to create a consistent user experience across the whole thing with a single navigational approach? In this session we explore these questions and look at what other large organisations do.

Paul Boag

May 28, 2013
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  1. ★ Extremely large ★ Many levels deep ★ Made up

    of microsites & subsections ★ Cater to many audiences ★ Have multiple entry points MEGA SITE
  2. Why mega sites often divide Wide offerings Large, diverse, user

    groups Siloed business units Complex organisational structures Internal politics
  3. Pros for a single site Cons for a single site

    Pros for a multi site Cons for a multi site Pros and cons exercise
  4. I am a prospective student from Mexico I want to

    speak to a representative in my country So I can decided if I wish to study at the University of Strathclyde.
  5. Studying > Prospective students > International students > Information for

    international students > Mexico > Overseas representatives > Anglo Latino Education Partnership
  6. ★ Users only be interested in section ★ Deep linking

    into the site ★ Redundant pages only used to navigate ★ No space left for content! CHALLENGES!
  7. ★ Users only be interested in section ★ Deep linking

    into the site ★ Redundant pages only used to navigate ★ No space left for content! CHALLENGES! ★ Replication of labelling
  8. Advantages Limitless size Great for deep linking More flexible Disadvantages

    Will users get it? Will content managers get it? Reliant on good tagging and curation
  9. Advantages Easier internal management Stronger sub branding Obvious where the

    user is Disadvantages Challenges of adjusting to each site Undermines overall brand Makes moving between sub sites hard
  10. Advantages Minimal real estate dedicated to navigation Clear and simple

    choices Focused on current level and children Disadvantages Lots of movement up and down tree Little sense of the structure of the site Impossible to skip between sections
  11. Advantages Less real estate than traditional navigation Provides context and

    the ability to skip around Focused on current level and children Disadvantages Challenge for mobile devices Can’t see context at a glance Not many existing implementations
  12. ★ No perfect solution. ★ Depends on organisational perception. ★

    Depends on how users perceive things. ★ A big challenge made worse by politics. CONCLUSIONS