The ANR CS Web Support team has created a new look for county web sites using Site Builder. The design, created by CS senior artist Valerie Griffith, uses graphics rather than text to steer web site visitors to county programs and other pages.

The original county web site style, with some graphics, limited how many programs could be listed on the main page. A second version of the main page was later created that listed all of a county’s programs but did not display any graphics. “People were torn between listing all of their programs and using the graphics,” says Karl Krist, CS programmer for the Web Support Project. “Now they can have both.”

Every page has been redesigned in this third version. Pages are centered, with more white space around the elements, which matches the design for many other ANR web sites. All programs can be listed on the main page with corresponding program graphics. The “Current News” section allows each county to list important and timely information, including links to highlighted programs or issues in the county.

An example of the new format can be found on the Fresno County web site: http://cefresno.ucdavis.edu/

Although a county can choose between the three different styles for its web site, more than half of the state’s county offices have taken advantage of the new design. A site can easily be changed to any one of the three styles, and sites can be changed back and forth quickly, which allows the county staff to determine which format they like best without much trouble.

County office web liaisons who are interested in switching their sites to the new format, but are not sure how to do it, can call Krist at (530) 754-6596.