A COMPLETE NEW BEGINNING
At the beginning of every relaunch, the question is: Take over contents and parts of the technology, or start everything on a greenfield site? At Kempten University of Applied Sciences, we decided on the latter, a complete new start. Based on TYPO3 version 9, the technical implementation began in 2019. Since the existing site had been growing for many years and was also very much organizational, the revision of the information and navigation architecture was the main focus at the beginning of the project. As a result, we introduced a subsite principle, where all institutions with sufficient content receive their own main navigation. The most important pages are accessible via the top navigation. Of course, responsive web design was the main focus during the design process. The aim was to find a modern, responsive, barrier-free presentation. With courage we dared to use distances, free space and larger fonts.
OUR PROJECT MANAGERS PROVIDE INSIGHT
The two contact persons for the relaunch, Ms. Weber from the Kempten University of Applied Sciences and Stefan Busemann, managing director at in2code, have agreed to answer a few interesting questions about the project.
1. Ms. Weber, what are you particularly proud of?
Ms. Weber: In this project, the complexity was partly due to the many people who helped develop it. Because two agencies were also integrated and decisions had to be made from many sides, it seemed at first glance to be a somewhat bumpy road. We are all the happier to have proven the opposite despite this challenge. A successful result and above all a fresh layout represents the good cooperation.
2. Which challenges had to be mastered?
Stefan Busemann: In the beginning, we had to win over the stakeholders at the university for our new information architecture. In order for a website to be comprehensible to visitors, it cannot address an infinite number of target groups, which ultimately means that not every institution can be represented on the homepage.
3. Which procedures have proved particularly successful?
Ms Weber: The weekly Jour Fixe with Stefan and the team paved the way for us. Problems or questions could be solved quickly due to the high availability. A big advantage was also Stefan's membership in the board of the TYPO3 Association. If a plugin was needed or questions arose, he was able to fix it quickly with his networking.
4. Is there an element or function that you particularly like?
Stefan Busemann: I personally like all elements that can "break out". By this I mean elements that go beyond the normal content width and thus also loosen up the design (e.g. the course finder on the start page).
The result is impressive
The duration of the project, the long filing and improving, the brainstorming and the continuous exchange of new ideas, this is what makes the successful result. We are happy to have taken this step together with the university and look forward to further success, cooperation and fine-tuning. Because that is what makes a successful result.
