Custom Web Design in Large Organizations

A University website isn’t really a single website. It’s actually made up of many sites: Human Resources. Office of the President. Department of Zebra Fish Studies.

So the question is this: how important is it for these websites to be look the same?

This recently became a topic on several forums and in our office. On EduStyle and other sites, people commented about how our Department of Film, Television, and Theatre didn’t look anything like our other sites – or even a Notre Dame website. After kicking these ideas around for a few weeks, I figured I’d jot down a few observations here.

Custom Design

• Individual units have different communications goals


• Design standards and technologies evolve


• Custom tailored to different audiences’ needs

Cohesive Design

• Brand consistency and unity
• Easier maintenance
• Less design/development time
• People tend to think of them all as part of the ND.edu website

Someone proposed a compromise. Administrative offices would get a standard design, intended to be functional and carry the University brand. Academic units – colleges, departments, institutes, and centers – would be offered custom designs. However, there should still be some consistency in brand locations, navigation, etc. As users adapt to the website they’re on, moving to another ND site shouldn’t be totally disruptive. They shouldn’t need to learn a new interface and struggle to find the information they need.

I’ve always been a proponent of custom design, but I can see the value of such a compromise. It would let our small group focus on more of the brand-critical, high visibility websites.