The geography, geology and planning website was redesigned as part of the Academic Website Project.

The department’s diverse range of unique programs presented design challenges and opportunities. With prospective students in mind, the redesign team wanted to make sure that information regarding each program would be easy to find. The team also hoped to communicate the programs’ benefits through a variety of means, including text, photo and video. As a result, organization and storytelling became focal points of the redesign strategy.

Organization

• All undergraduate and graduate programs, including minors and certificates, are clearly listed in the navigation of the departmental homepage so that visitors can quickly skim for specific areas of interest.
• Distinctions between programs (such as the difference between studying geography and geospatial sciences) are defined in content blocks.
• Straightforward questions such as “Why study geology at Missouri State?” are answered with lists that are written from the second-person perspective. (For example, “You will be part of the largest geology program in the state…”)

Storytelling

• Stories of student success are told through a variety of platforms, including blogs and spotlight profiles, which are in turn distributed strategically through customized feeds.
• Outside content pieces such as advisement videos and Maroon Minute videos are incorporated throughout the site, where they help create a complex, inviting picture of the department.

Site credits

• Staff lead and content: Jessica Clements, new media specialist, University communications
• Design: Veronica Adinegara, senior graphic designer, University publications
• Implementation: Hannah Morrison and Ted Ostapko, Web and new media student workers, with oversight by Brian Heaton, content management programmer/analyst, and Sara Clark, director of Web and new media