The Stanford Vision and Neuro-Development Lab needed a site that was easy to edit for staff members without formal web development skills. The Stanford Web Services team siezed this opportunity to build a self-service tool for clients to address their web needs.
In the past, the Stanford Vision and Neuro-Development Lab had trouble altering and updating its website, and could rarely reach the support team of its existing provider. The team desired a user-friendly site to connect site visitors to information about ongoing research at the lab, that was also easy for site editors to update. Because the team is small and its members have demanding schedules, SVNDL sought a simple solution that would allow for regular site updates and required limited training.
Needs:
- simple & user-friendly interface for editors
- website that showcases lab studies and attracts new lab members and participants
- dedicated customer support
Addressing Simple Needs
SVNDL was an early adopter of our new Stanford Sites Jumpstart service. We viewed the challenges of this lab as a two-fold opportunity:
- to provide an easy-to-use tool for clients with relatively simple needs
- to rapidly provision a site with placeholder content that was flexible enough for client adjustment
Making Drupal Less Intimidating
Through discovery workshops with previous clients, we have found that most of the faculty members managing their sites are not formally trained with web products. In many cases, our clients find the Drupal default configuration to be intimidating. In the words of SWS Project Manager Linnea Williams, “Drupal is a powerful tool, but it can be too much for people.”
To address this challenge, we took the standard default Drupal interface and masked a lot, providing a simpler tool with a friendly user interface. One example of this is our simplified site actions bar. The standard Drupal interface provides a complex administrative menu at the top of the screen designed for web developers. Our lightweight solution gives our clients only the tools they need.
Standard Drupal Administrative Menu
Our Simplified Site Actions Bar
Quick Turnaround
One goal of SVNDL was to launch the site by the beginning of the quarter to onboard and recruit new lab members. To accommodate their fixed launch date, we provided a website with placeholder content within two business days. Once the site was available to SVNDL, the editors were able to take the reigns, using SWS as a resource for continued guidance and check-ins.
“What’s great about this [is] it’s easy to train new users to make changes. Everybody in the lab likes it and finds it easy to update info on their own profile.”
Working on the SVNDL website showcased the need for an easy to use tool to solve simple web development needs that could be built and launched quickly. We are continuing to use Stanford Sites Jumpstart for similar groups on campus.
This project also brought to light the importance of modifying sites directly with clients to better understand their needs, frustrations, and vision. To make it possible for clients to edit their sites after launch, it is also critical to always teach as you go - not just do things for them. For self-service tools, client guidance and direction is just as important as building to fit their needs.
Having an easy-to-use website got to the core of the primary site editor Claudia Arrighi’s needs. She pointed out, “What’s great about this [is] it’s easy to train new users to make changes. Everybody in the lab likes it and finds it easy to update info on their own profile.”
Claudia also expressed an appreciation for SWS team guidance and support saying, “The support until now has been excellent - very responsive, helpful and friendly. That is the thing I am most impressed about.”
If you're interested in learning more about this project, contact SWS Manager, Sara Worrell-Berg SWS at swberg@stanford.edu.
