Objectives of the Hope Website Design

The Hope website should possess the following properties.

1. Reverence.

   The site should honor and reflect the glory of God with dignity and reverence.

2. Simplicity.

   Perhaps not quite so extreme as “stark”, but the website should be noticeably lacking in glitzy presentation, distracting animation, clutter, banners, or unnecessary images. The website should be easy to use, navigate and understand.

3. Unobtrusiveness. (Minimal imposition upon users.)

   Users should not be required to compromise any preferences or security practices just to visit the site. Specific implications:

   1. There should be no requirement that JavaScript (or any other scripting) be enabled for the website to function properly. The site should work well without JavaScript.
   2. There should be no requirement that cookies be enabled for the use of any page or function on the site.
   3. The pages of the website shall have a small source size. Modem users should not be burdened with long download time, or unnecessary graphics or other bandwidth sinks.
   4. There should be no requirement that the user load or have loaded any browser plug-ins in order to use the site.
4. Identity.

   The web site should clearly indicate who we are, what we believe, where we are, and how to find and contact us. (Links to offsite confessional statements are acceptable.)

5. Usefulness.

   The website should provide timely information that is useful to the Hope community on an ongoing basis.

   1. Information such as worship schedule, meeting schedules, times and locations of activities, study topics, should be available on the website, and should be updated in a timely manner.
   2. Helpful reference material, or links to offsite locations of such, should be available on the website.
   3. Important news and announcements should be accessible more timely than in the weekly worship bulletin.
   4. The website should support the presentation of edifying material such as book reviews, thoughts, essays, insights and analysis of current events from a Biblical perspective on a regular basis.
6. Respect for Privacy.

   Addresses and telephone numbers of members will not be publicly viewable without the express consent of the individuals. No email should be generated as a result of any user input to the website.

7. Standards compliance.

   The website should adhere to current XHTML and CSS standards. It should present a consistent appearance in all standards-compliant browsers. Even in partially-compliant browsers, website presentation should not fail dramatically or distractingly to the greatest extent practical.

8. Viewing Flexibility.

   The web site should work well over a wide range of screen resolutions and font sizes of the user’s choice. Screen text should reflow sensibly if the user changes font sizes or window size.

9. Pleasantness.

   The overall appearance of the website should be pleasing, as should the experience of using the site. No unsolicited music or sound track should play upon accessing any page.