Designing or redesigning a website can be a daunting experience. This site, the Web Reference Guide, will help you get started with all aspects of web production. The emphasis is on designing and developing sites within the MIT environment, which prioritizes cross-platform compatibility, usability, and accessibility in order to make sites available to the widest possible audience.
What You Should Know
The MIT audience includes users with a wide range of web browsers, connection speeds, and monitor resolutions. We encourage you to test your site across browsers and platforms to know what your users are seeing.
You can use technologies such as JavaScript, Flash, and CSS. However, users may not have JavaScript or the right plug-in, but still need to access your information. There are creative ways to use all of these technologies effectively with some thought and planning.
The MIT audience includes users with disabilities (visual, hearing, and cognitive impairments) and it’s a legal requirement that MIT sites be accessible to these users. There are some simple ways to improve the accessibility of your site.
These guidelines are not exhaustive, but their intention is always to elevate accessibility and inclusiveness. If you have questions about any of these guidelines, or would like help with your project from a Departmental Consulting and Application Development (DCAD) consultant, contact DCAD via email at dcad@mit.edu or by phone at 617.253.3500.