[thelist] reorg & redesign at the same time?

I'd agree with Jeff here. If the need is there, the two really 
go together. Architecture and navigation can really help to define
and drive the design of the site. If the design is done first
it may have to be significantly altered to accommodate the new
organization.

If that happens, the new org can end up looking and feeling sort 
of like an afterthought rather than an integral part of the 
overall design.

Add to that confusion and the added work and it seems a clear
decision, indeed.

- Chris Hays
  Levine & Associates
  Washington, DC


>From: "Link, Jeff R" <Link.Jeff@emeryworld.com>
>
>I'd vote for doing both the redesign and reorganization at once. If you
>separated the two, you'd end up with an even larger group of confused users.
>They would get use to the redesign when suddenly a reorganization would
>throw them. (Plus, it will be less work in the long run.) Anyway, it sounds
>like your group has the special privilege of being at the forefront of
>university wide change...make the best of it.
>
>You can minimize user confusion by doing announcements, guides, tours, help
>files. Perhaps a pop up "Welcome to the New Site" sorta windows the first
>time the user hits the site? Maybe make the search more prominent by adding
>the search field to every window. A week before the new site is launched,
>post an announcement on the existing site (and distribute physical handouts
>too) with a list of changes.
>
>~jeff link
>
>-----Original Message-----
>From: Czechowski, Aaron [mailto:aczechowski@towson.edu]
>
>	We're starting to plan a redesign of our site, and at the same time
>are thinking perhaps it might be a good time to reorganize as well.  We'll
>be doing user surveys and all that, but my question to you all - is it too
>much to throw at your users to redesign AND reorg all at the same time?