Cornell in Vietnam Website Redesign
INFO 2300- Intermediate Web Development
Spring 2017
PHP, CSS, Javascript, HTML, SQL, User Experience Design
For the final project in INFO 2300, teams of students were tasked with finding a client and redesigning their website. The client my team worked with was the Cornell in Vietnam study abroad program. Our team was unique in that it was made up of women only, and that we all were studying different disciplines from Computer Science, to Information Sciences, to Urban Planning, to Labor Relations. The goal set by our client was to create an information page for prospective applicants, an application portal, and a blogging interface that allowed students to log in and post about their personal experiences.
The original website, created on Wix.
Client & Goals
The Cornell in Vietnam program is an immersive study-abroad opportunity that sends students in the Industrial and Labor Relations department to Vietnam. Our client was the professor in charge of the program and after interviewing both students and the professor, our team identified two goals:
1. Create a streamlined informational website where students can get information on the application, apply, and contact the professor.
2. Create a blog platform on the website where participating students can log in and post blog upda
Community Engagement & Design Charrette-
Structure and
Design Proposal & Feasibility-
Drawing from our community meetings we were able to narrow down the goals of our design to three things: access to nature, local history, and connectivity. In our design we focused on a combination of highlighting landmarks, incorporating preserved railroad tracks into the trail, and implementation of wayfinding signage. We also explored the trail's role as a greenway and ensured that the path and materials used were friendly to both bikers and pedestrians. In order to reduce impact on protected wetlands and increase accessibility to the nature Hammondsport has to provide, we recommended elevated wooden bridges. Lastly, we proposed strategic landscaping that would create a sense of distinction between public and private spaces, allowing private property owners the delineation they advocated for.
We received very positive feedback from the Friends of Hammondsport who were able to use our proposal materials to apply for grants and begin construction.
Takeaway-
In this project I gained many technical skills which included rendering in Photoshop, creating attractive maps through ArcGIS and Illustrator, and performing environmental impact analyses. However, one of the most valuable skills I gained from this project was learning how to effectively engage communities and local government. I learned the power of being able to clearly communicate concepts both internally, within a multidisciplinary team of architects, planners, and engineers, and externally, translating jargon-y design concepts to everyday people. I learned that when it comes to your own neighborhood, everyone is an expert and has a valuable story to tell.