April 2, 2008

Thanks to everyone who provided feedback on the initial design concepts for the new site. Based on all of the comments we received, a final direction was selected and Tank made additional refinements. The mockups available at the following links present a rough idea of how the site will appear when it goes live in June:

Static design concepts

Animated homepage

Please note that the content included on these mockups is not accurate. It is for draft purposes only and does not represent information that will appear on the final site.

In May we will provide an opportunity for all members of the MassArt community to participate in a testing phase before the site is available to the general public. In the meantime, please feel free to contact us at marketing@massart.edu with any questions or comments.

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The past twelve months have brought many exciting changes to MassArt. We enter 2008 with a new official name—Massachusetts College of Art and Design—and a visual identity system that truly represents the energy and diversity of our community.

In conjunction with these activities, the college has initiated a comprehensive web redevelopment project, the ultimate goal of which is to develop a web presence for MassArt that is dynamic, user-friendly, and rich in content. A steering committee comprised of faculty, staff, students, and friends of the college is spearheading the project. The new site is scheduled to launch in June 2008.

It is important to view the launch of this new site not as an end, but as a beginning. An effective website will grow and evolve with MassArt, incorporating new content and technologies as they become available. Once the site has launched, we will continue to provide you with information about future developments. Please always feel free to share your ideas.

The web redevelopment project is comprised of four distinct areas: site organization, content development, design, and testing.

Organizing the information
In early 2007 MassArt hired Shaun Gummere, an information architecture consultant, to examine the college and recommend a structure for the new site that clearly organizes information for site visitors. Mr. Gummere met extensively with members of the MassArt community and also conducted a comparative analysis of the sites of peer institutions.

The final recommendation was provided in June 2007. Refinements to the recommended information architecture will be made during the design process.

Developing content
In order for the new site to be effective, content must represent the breadth of activity on our campus and it must be updated regularly. This is not limited to text; the site must also include a rich array of visual and dynamic content.

MassArt has purchased and deployed a new content management system that will allow contributors from all areas of the college to provide content.

Designing the site
Nine qualified companies submitted proposals to lead the redesign process. The steering committee interviewed three finalists, from which Tank was selected. Tank is widely recognized as a leader in the field of dynamic media.

In early January Tank presented over a dozen rough concepts for the new site. After much discussion, the steering committee narrowed the field to a few concepts, each of which features some successful components that may be incorporated into the final design.

Click here for samples of Tank’s rough concepts.
Questions or feedback? Click here.

Note: The design process is in its early stages. These are rough concepts that, in total, demonstrate a range of ideas to be considered and refined as the process continues. Also, these concepts are static and do not represent the dynamic interface users may experience when visiting the new site.

Testing it out
Though the official launch of the site is scheduled for June, a testing phase will begin in early May. Through various forms of testing, we will ensure that the site is fully functional before going live to the public. All members of the MassArt community will be invited to participate in the testing phase.

Over the next six months periodic updates on the web redevelopment project will be posted on this page and you will be invited to provide feedback on our progress. We look forward to the summer when we will launch a new site that truly represents the spirit of MassArt.