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the case for incremental redesign: part ii

If you are in any way responsible for a Web site, you should have some understanding of the principles of Extreme Programming . Cultivated as a discipline of software development, it is a combination of ensuring that designs remain uncomplicated, centering changes around user requirements, and employing the concept of the "Whole Team." The result is that small changes are released as they are needed - and endorsed - by the client. Not surprisingly, Extreme Programming speaks well to Web management. Consider its core values: simplicity, communication, feedback, and courage. These are the bedrock incremental redesign. Simplicity - Integrate all site changes in small doses. Avoid tectonic disruption of the entire Web presence. Document faithfully, but do not get bogged down in over-documenting. Or overplanning. Leverage reusable objects. Better yet, get the site into a content management system - one that is scaled to its requirements. Eliminate unmanageable code morass by fol...
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the "family of publications”

Here's one that's been buzzing around universities for the past several years: The desire to make the Web presence and brochures look like "a family of publications." always crashing in the same car: recurring mistakes and misuses of the web Branding and consistency. These are the given reasons. Okay, there's nothing wrong with branding. Nor is there anything wrong - actually a lot right - about instilling a level of consistency across all facets of public communications, both online and in print. Or the uniform design and navigation of Web pages across a site. Unfortunately the "family of publications" notion is frequently misinterpreted to mean that Web sites should take on the design characteristics brochures as well as regurgitating their content - a misunderstanding promulgated by those who understand print publications but not the Web. And then, consistency becomes the hobgoblin. Some words of advice to those who push the concept to this point: Bro...
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