There are a number of areas on the web page: header, image, navigation, body text and footer. Each of these areas may consist of a number of distinct elements, each having its own specific position on the page. Some elements are required on all three levels of pages, some on only level 1 pages. Some elements must be linked to a specific URL.
The following document describes each element, its position on the page, and whether or not it is mandatory.
This department title must appear in a specific font, and hence is created for you as an image by Graphics. It is essential that you add an ALT tag to this image that provides the same words as appear in the image. This is important for two reasons. First, it provides important accessibility information for those using the web page via screen reading software. Second, the Unit title is designated a Heading 1, and because it is the first Heading 1 on the page, it receives a high ranking by a search engine, and hence anyone carrying out a search for your unit name will find it easily.
Collage/photo
Mandatory on the first level page. A default image will be provided with the template. You may use the default image, you may use a photograph of your own, or you can contract with Graphics to create an image or collage for you.
Size: 755 x 145 pixels
Recommendations:
If a seasonal image is used it should change with the season
Mandatory at all three levels. Primary or main menu items on the first level page. Primary and expanded submenus on second level pages, and likewise on the third level pages in order to provide a context for the pages.
Left hand side of main section of page.
Recommendations:
It is strongly recommended that no more than seven items appear on the primary menu, and nine or fewer on the submenus.
Good design suggests that menu item text should be: kept to a minimum; concise; descriptive; meaningful. CSS will enforce appropriate case settings.
Avoid departmental jargon and acronyms in the menus. If further explanation is required consider putting the link inside the content of a web page.
Optional.
Right hand column of the main page area.
Recommendations:
This area could be used for links specific to a menu item selected (e.g., “Cool Arts Jobs” for Current Students submenu area), or which are transient, to replace the “buttons” currently in use, for additional images, news items (e.g., upcoming events), etc
The content of the web page. It will consist of headings, paragraphs, lists, links etc. While it is permissible to have images in the content, they should be relevant to the particular content of that page, and not appear for the sole purpose of adding colour or visual interest to the web page. Any images that are used must have ALT tag information. The body text may contain tables, but only for the purpose of presenting tabular data, not to lay out text in a specific manner. When tables are used, table headers should be used to represent the column and/or row headings. This is important to make the table accessible to screen reading software.
Mandatory
Below the header, to the right of the primary navigation area.
Mandatory on all levels.
Bottom of the page, aligned on left under the body.
Campaign Waterloo promotional logo
Mandatory on all levels. Mandatory to use the Campaign Waterloo logo as supplied with the template.
Bottom of the page, to right of the Address, right-aligned.
Recommendations:
Defaults to link the logo to the main Campaign Waterloo web site (http://www.campaign.uwaterloo.ca/). This link can be changed to point to unit Campaign web sites (which then should have a pointer to the main one).
Three key links (Contact us | Web site feedback | Faculty of …)
Mandatory on all levels.
Bottom of the page, aligned on left under the body and under the department address
Web Operations Team
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
519 888 4567 ext. 36433
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