University website design competition

A University of St Andrews postgraduate student will be presented with an award later this week (Wednesday 28 February 2001) after designing a new homepage for the University website.

Tom Beddard, a student in the School of Physics, beat off stiff competition from fellow students and staff by designing the page which will act as the “front door” to the University, together with pages giving general information and easy-to-navigate links to each School, Unit, Centre, Institute and Service – http://www.st- andrews.ac.uk.

Tom’s design was singled out for being attractive and useful to visitors with no prior knowledge of the University and to those with specific questions in mind and for effectively portraying the University’s excellent international reputation for teaching and research. He has been developing and marketing his web skills for some time and is considering a career in web design.

The judging panel included technical experts, a disabilities adviser, a PR adviser and Vice- Principal Alastair Work.

Mr Work said, “A University web site is a living publication with many editors and contributors. It is also an excellent way of improving communication. We have been trying to upgrade our site for five years but kept running into the question of how to make a high quality site also reflect the richness and diversity of activity in St Andrews. The quality of the site was variable but we knew that there were places where it was excellent, often through the efforts of our own staff and students. We therefore decided to run a competition to discover what talent we had under our noses. Tom’s entry was particularly impressive because, as well as being visually striking, it also reflected an understanding of the University and respected what was already good about the site. We expect that the example set by Tom’s “homepage zone” design will encourage the development of other parts of the site. We are delighted with the new homepage and particularly pleased that one of our own students has had the chance to show his skills in this way.”

NOTE TO EDITORS – You are invited to send a reporter/photographer to the first floor of College Gate, North Street, St Andrews at 11am on Wednesday 28 February 2001 when Tom Beddard will be presented with a cheque for £1000 by Principal and Vice-Chancellor Dr Brian Lang.

ENDS

Issued by Beattie Media on behalf of the University of St Andrews For more information please contact Claire Grainger on 01334 462530, 07730 415 015 or email [email protected] Ref: website- new/standrews/chg/26feb2001