Overview of Design Standards
The CMU Web site is designed to express CMU’s supportive environment and active learning culture. The following guidelines are provided to ensure consistent navigation and accurately convey CMU’s public identity and image to its key constituencies (including the CMU community, prospective students, alumni, and donors). All units that maintain CMU Web sites for external audiences should apply the Web elements and standards outlined here.
Web site requirements
When developing new or revised Web sites, CMU departments and units should strive to provide a navigational and layout scheme that is consistent with the www.cmich.edu home page and subpages. All CMU public Web pages must include:
1) An approved CMU banner. Use one of the following:
- Gold banner | view gold banner
- Maroon banner | view maroon banner
- For a banner customized to include a department's or unit's name, please contact Public Relations & Marketing.
2) An approved CMU footer. Use either of the following:
- Approved CMU footer | view footer
- Approved CMU footer with departmental contact information | view footer with contact info
Web site recommendations
You may choose to use one or more of the following optional items:
- Dark gray navigation bar with drop-down menus (menu options can not be changed) | view dark gray bar
- Light gray navigation bar (menu options can be changed) placed directly below the dark gray navigation bar | view light gray bar
- Web page template in gold or maroon | view gold banner template | view maroon banner template
- Links to the Why CMU and Visit sites for general information about CMU
Note: Before starting a new or redesigned Web site for a department or unit, please contact Monica Mull in Public Relations & Marketing at mull1mm@cmich.edu to find out if any changes are pending that might affect your revision.
General creative direction
Please contact Public Relations & Marketing at (989) 774-3197 regarding preferred color palette, font selection, photo treatment, and other guidelines. These guidelines will be available on the Web at a later date.
Use of the CMU logo and seal should follow the existing identity guidelines. For more information, please visit our wordmark, logos and other image restrictions section.
Operational standards
- CMU supports Internet Explorer 6+, Firefox 2+ and Safari 2+.
- All text links should be indicated with a visual cue, such as underlining, color, or other indicator. It is strongly recommended that text underlining be used for text links only.
- Right-side navigation is strongly recommended in order to ensure consistency throughout the CMU public Web space.
- Design in the recommended 1024 pixel width for consistency throughout CMU’s Web sites.
- Use "keywords" and "description" meta elements in each page. More information is available in the Meta Elements section.