City Begins First Phase of Web Site Redesign

2/5/2010

Austin Government Online

Contact: Communications and Public Information, (512) 974-2220

City leadership and community partners welcomed SteelSMBology, a local design firm, as it began the first day of work on the City Web redesign project.

SteelSMBology's leadership team outlined their goals for the project to a group primarily composed of key City stakeholders. During phase one of the redesign process, SteelSMBology will work closely with the City's Communications and Public Information Office, Communications and Technology Management and other departments that rely on the Web site to conduct day to day business.

Among their responsibilities, SteelSMBology will consider ways to streamline usability, improve the quality and availability of data and information, provide a platform for online transactions, develop mobile and social media strategies and provide new visual design recommendations for the site.

"Our goal is simple: the City’s website should be an unobscured window in to what we do, how we do it, and how our residents can play a part. Providing residents the online tools they need to interact and do business with the City is imperative in order for us to be the best managed city in the nation," said City Manager Marc Ott.

Phase one of the project will focus on evaluation of the current City Web site to determine appropriate architecture, design and policies. “This process essentially sets the stage for our redesign, and the community will play a vital role in providing feedback early and often as the project evolves over the coming months,” said Doug Matthews, Austin’s Chief Communications Director.

The findings of this first phase will define the initiative's future direction and contribute technological and design specifications for the new site. Phase two will involve the implementation of these recommendations. Phase I is expected to take 6-8 months to complete.

"It's been a long road just to get to the starting line, but I'm very excited that we are finally here," said Mayor Lee Leffingwell. "Our primary objective from the beginning has been to deliver greater transparency and improved service through a relaunched website, and I'm confident that we'll achieve that objective with SteelSMBology's help.”

“I'm especially interested in ensuring that we deliver a one-stop online payment center, and a way to report city expenditures in real- time, or as close to it as we can come, as a result of this process," Leffingwell added.

SteelSMBology is a mutual partnership between Austin-based Steel Advertising & Interactive Inc. and SMBology Inc., which has offices in both Austin and Houston.

Project updates, news and opportunities for public input are available at www.austingo.org.