This paper presents some design principles and requirements for a particular type of web site. This is the type of site whose function is to support the sharing of information and ideas among a community that has a common interest in the domain covered by the site, while at the same time encouraging others to explore the domain and learn from the site and the other members of the community. We assume that the primary interest is in the substantive material covered by the site, so that the graphical and presentational aspects of the design are of secondary importance. However, this does not mean that presentation is unimportant, rather that the presentation must be designed to focus on support for the functionality of the site and the delivery of useful facilities for the users.
Describing this as a web site design issue is somewhat missing the point. Instead, what we are dealing with is the design of an application to facilitate delivery and sharing of information and ideas, an application that happens to use the Web to provide accessibility to users. So it is more relevant to concentrate on issues of application design, with all that implies in terms of modelling structures and processes, and in terms of usability and human-centred design. The design and presentation of particular pages within the site is important only in so far as it serves the principle function of the application.
This document is based on material originally produced during a review of the early version of the web site for the AMRADS project (see amrads.jrc.cec.eu.int). The current design of that site was influenced by many of the principles set out here.
The project aimed to radically enhance the take-up of ‘best practice’ in statistical organisations, both by active means and more passively by providing access to information and services that support the project aims.
The overall purpose of the web site was to host resources and services and to support the related activities. This paper takes examples from the Amrads context, but the principles apply to any web site that is intended to disseminate general information resources, and generally to support related activities. It clearly does not apply directly to sites that disseminate more specific or restricted forms of information, where one would expect the functionality to be more directly tuned to the information type.
Click here to download the full version of this paper, where you will find a detailed discussion of the functional and structural requirements for a web service of this type.
Page last updated 17 February 2004.