Introduction

In recent years, web sites have become important communication tools for all types of organizations, including higher education. At the University of Colorado at Boulder, web design and content play a critical role in the campus' overall communication strategy.

CU-Boulder's Office of Web Communications, a unit within University Communications, provides leadership and support for CU-Boulder's web development, particularly in the area of web design. To assist campus departments in web projects, Web Communications has developed these standards for site design.

The purpose of the standards is to help ensure a design that is strong, clear, memorable, and consistently visible throughout the CU-Boulder web site. A strong design creates a visual identity that improves recognition and awareness of the university, and that can generate an increased understanding of and support for CU-Boulder's mission, vision, and goals. An effective web site design also protects valuable assets of the university by protecting its trademarks and advancing its brand.

Because the successful integration of CU-Boulder’s web identity is an important goal at every level of the site, this guide describes the system behind the design. For web publishers who want to create custom designs, this guide explains the required elements and their use. For web publishers who want simpler options, it provides a choice of templates that follow the web identity standards while allowing unique features on every site.

CU-Boulder's web identity is intended for use on official sites: for university departments and university-recognized affiliates conducting official university business, located in the colorado.edu domain or elsewhere on the Web. The web identity may not be used on personal web sites or on student group sites.

CU-Boulder's Web Publishing Policy requires compliance with the web identity standards. To assist web publishers in implementing the standards, consultation on use of the templates and on creating custom designs is available from Web Communications at no charge. A consultation is required prior to developing any site based on CU-Boulder's web identity. Following the consultation, web publishers will be provided files with the templates or the elements that are needed to create a custom design. Review and approval of the site by Web Communications prior to launch is also required to ensure that CU-Boulder's web identity is properly implemented.

Web Identity Standards – Last Revision Date: 7/3/03

[Introduction] [Design Templates] [Required Elements] [Custom Designs] [Reserved Designs] [Where to Get Help]