Packaging

I created a packaging diagram, according to the technique suggested by December in the design process.

This results in a web with the following structure;

• The ICS Web
  • university related
    • teaching
      • degree information
      • course module information
    • administration
      • how to contact the department
      • search for a member
    • informal
      • life at the department
      • news reports
    • erasmus information
    • research material
  • user feedback
  • internet facilities

Although logically correct, I think this structure is too deep - users must navigate through more layers than necessary to obtain the information they require. The heading may be misleading and this structure does not make use of the optimal number of elements that a user may process, which is 7 +/- 2. I have therefore refined it into the following, more intuitive, structure;

• The ICS Web
  • teaching & research
    • degree information
    • course module information
    • research material
  • search for a member
  • the ICS department
    • how to contact the department
    • life at the department
    • news reports
    • erasmus information
  • user feedback
  • internet facilities

The 'top' 5 elements, I believe, will be the most frequently used, with less used elements positioned within the web subject hierarchy. The new structure retains the logical grouping of the old structure, but reduces the redundancy of lesser-used elements 'cluttering up' the top level, and also has a more 'human' feel to it.