December 2024 Web Updates

Brand Site Updates

• Phase 1 Target Launch: The new brand site is set to launch in April 2025.
• Editorial Guidelines Update: A new style guide section, modeled on the AP Stylebook, is in development with improved search and maintenance functionality.
• Mega Menu Development: Work on a robust mega menu for the brand site is scheduled for late January, with potential expansion campus-wide by summer 2025.
• “Do This, Not That” Blocks: A new block is in the works to provide examples of brand best practices.

Smart Search Rollout

• The Smart Search feature has been live on the College of Sciences site for nearly a month, with positive feedback.
• Further refinements will be made in January 2025, informed by user interviews. Campus-wide rollout is planned for early 2025.

Glossary Plugin

• A glossary plugin, authored by Arianna Story, is under consideration for wider adoption.
• It enables definitions for terms across a site, accessible via hover or click. Deployment on the documentation site is a priority, with feedback welcomed for additional use cases.

Photo Galleries and News Post Enhancements

• A brainstorming session generated ideas for improving photo galleries, including traditional, timeline, and hybrid layouts.
• Further work is planned to refine and combine concepts.
• Future sessions will explore options for brief, impactful content displays like infographics and sidebar narratives.

Table of Contents (ToC) Feature

• A new ToC feature will launch in January 2025 for pages only.
• The ToC automatically generates navigation links for headings, supporting up to 10 items split into two columns.
• Future updates may refine its layout and expand its use to posts based on user feedback.

Hero Area Adjustments

• Minor updates to text sizing and box styling are underway to improve alignment and consistency.
• Aimed for release later in January, these changes address visual discrepancies for text-heavy hero areas.

Grid System Updates

• Significant backend work is being done to establish a consistent grid system across blocks and elements.
• The floated fact and spotlight blocks will be replaced by updated functionality within the fancy paragraph block.

Closing Notes

• The team is committed to iterating on these updates with user feedback.
• Recap posts for all meetings, including this one, are available on the documentation site.
• Next meetings are scheduled for January and February 2025.

Thank you to everyone who participated and contributed to these discussions. Wishing you all a happy holiday season!