Final release candidate, Kenyon.edu homepage

After several weeks of design work, and collaborative revision and deliberation between White Whale and Kenyon's Web redesign committee, we're happy to announce our final release candidate for the design of Kenyon College's new Web home page. We'll take you quickly through the process and its goals, and introduce you to the final candidate.

Process overview

We began early design conceptions for the Kenyon site shortly after returning from our three-day visit to Gambier in mid-October; the design process began in earnest after the delivery of our design and development recommendations on 10/31, and the general styleguide that came out of that process. After about three rounds of revisions internally, we presented two finalist designs for a Kenyon homepage, and four alternates, to Kenyon's Office of Public Affairs on December 7th.

This slate was narrowed to three choices by Public Affairs, which went to the greater Web committee for review. After internal committee debate and a December 20 conference call, a final release candidate was selected.

Goals for the Kenyon homepage design

In reviewing and critiquing designs, here's what we've been looking for:

• A design that mirrors Kenyon's excellent print work. Kenyon has some of the most consistently excellent print marketing materials we've seen. In our Web work, we've looked to the print materials as an inspiration (recognizing of course the inherent differences between the media). This means simple and clean lines, strong photography, and thoughtful typesetting.
  
• A reflection of the dynamism of the Kenyon community. It's our belief that Kenyon is a more dynamic, provocative, challenging place than it gets credit for. In our design process we've sought to get this across. Although Kenyon has beautiful architecture, there's clearly more to the picture than a straightforward campus beauty shot. What sets Kenyon apart from its top competitors isn't its beautiful campus: it's something more elusive, something uniquely Kenyon, and that is what we've tried to get at in the homepage design.
  
• Simplicity and complexity. In our October meeting, President Nugent made a reference to wanting the "elegance of simplicity and the functionality of complexity." Our primary goal has been to find this balance: to create something that can offer the excitement and dynamism of a highly interactive and engaging experience, but be able to highlight a single focal point if necessary. Our design should be flexible enough to meet a wide variety of communications needs.

The final candidate

The selected final candidate for the Kenyon homepage design is called "Photomosaic." It will appear in different ways at different times as needed by Public Affairs— with either a mosaic of Kenyon photography or a single feature with a translucent mosaic overlay. Here's the mosaic version:

The photos used in this mockup aren't necessarily the final selections: for the final release, the selections can be as random or as calculated as you'd like. We don't think the mosaic will randomize with each page load: rather, we imagine it might be composed (within parameters, of course) once a day.

The individual thumbnail images of the mosaic will subtly highlight on mouseover, and will show a larger version (with caption) when clicked. In this way, the mosaic homepage will always function as a robust Kenyon photo gallery.

The news and events items below the mosaic are completely customizable by Public Affairs, and can be used as needed, with thumbnail images for headlines requiring them.

This design can also be used to highlight a single feature. Feature stories can be used to drive traffic to areas needing increased exposure, and show off particular elements of the Kenyon community to the public. Here's an example of a feature story treatment:

(The above feature highlights Study Abroad— academic stories are just as appropriate.) And here's another, this one leading to a photo gallery:

Feature stories can be generated as needed by Kenyon's Public Affairs office; in general, the sorts of stories that are appropriate for this treatment are the type that wind up on the front page of the Bulletin. We have prepared a guideline for the preparation of Photomosaic homepage feature content, which was delivered to Public Affairs after the design presentation.

It is also possible to combine mosaic and feature approaches on a single page if needed.

General design justification

This design has clear roots in some of Kenyon's existing print materials: there's an Admissions poster with a similar look and feel, and the cover of the "On This Hilltop" DVD has the same general approach. But the dynamism of the Web lets us take this general treatment to a new and exciting level.

When the homepage is in mosaic mode, we believe it's doing something not seen anywhere else in academe: integrating a multifaceted photo gallery directly into the substance of a home page design in a subtle yet affecting way. We don't think any one image can tell Kenyon's story, but the 27 images seen in the mosaic can: together, they provide a quick and intuitive understanding of the sort of place Kenyon is.

When the homepage is devoted to a single feature, the mosaic overlay acts as a bold design element that is, again, unique: it is treated in a way that you don't see often on the Web (though it's fairly common in high-end print design). It's a very straightforward approach that nonetheless will, we feel, give an already strong photograph the feeling of high art.

It will be important, with both mosaic and feature approaches, to make sure that all areas of Kenyon's community are highlighted. This means that a good percentage of feature stories and mosaic images ought to be about academics, and the sciences in particular. We look forward to helping Public Affairs find the right balance going forward.

All in all, we believe this design takes concepts that have been reduced to a cliché in much of higher ed— diversity and community— and gives them a spin that doesn't feel contrived or strained. We hope you agree.

Click below for full size mockups:

Mosaic version with thumbnail images

Feature story (Study Abroad)

Feature story (Open All Night)

Here's what Jeremy (one of the Whalers) has to say:

"Many schools attempt to wrap up their first impression with a homepage that centers on a single, large photo. When a college takes that approach, it's wagering that the photo will have — for every visitor — just the precise sort of impact that the school wants to make. With a photo wall, Kenyon can take the multi-faceted approach, both displaying quantitatively more aspects of the school, right off the bat; as well as showing a qualitatively finer and more nuanced picture of Kenyon as a whole. I'm sure that you'd agree that the Kenyon experience is more than just the sum of its parts, and showing a photo wall allows us to lead students into thinking something like: 'Oh, I get it. I can study with professors in a small group, then walk down the Middle Path, say hi to my friends, and then go to that beautiful athletic center for practice. And those dances look like fun.' Any one piece of that picture wouldn't have nearly the same effect."

We very much want to know what you think; please take the time to comment by clicking the link below. You don't have to set up an account to post comments. In the Kenyon spirit of open discussion and debate, we ask that you include your name and class year (or faculty, staff, alumni status, etc.) along with your comments; anonymous comments may be deleted.