TNCourts.gov Website design refresh 2023
http://www.tncourts.govThe comprehensive redesign initiative follows the transition from an End-of-Life (EOL) Windows server to a Linux server (LAMP stack), coupled with the migration of Drupal from version 6 to version 9. The primary objective of this project was to modernize the site's appearance while ensuring a seamless user experience for our longstanding daily users. Preservation of sections dating back to 2007 was prioritized to prevent user confusion. The overarching concept involved expanding the site's layout to optimize its presentation on contemporary monitors. Key adjustments encompassed a revised color scheme, increased integration with social media, and a unified top-of-page menu scheme.
A crucial addition was the reintroduction of a statewide judicial map depicting all Judges and Clerks by county, addressing the functionality lost with the discontinuation of Flash support. Furthermore, the redesign incorporated a larger header carousel, emphasizing a heightened focus on individual designs for noteworthy news, and introduced a section featuring in-depth news stories for enhanced user engagement plus the ability to change the website's language using google translate.
It is essential to view this project not merely as a redesign but as a strategic reworking of a dynamic, ever-evolving site that anticipates ongoing design modifications and feature enhancements while retaining the foundational Drupal structure, striking a harmonious balance between form and function.
BUILT ON DRUPAL
The website, like many government sites (https://groups.drupal.org/government-sites#USA), is constructed on the Drupal CMS platform. Drupal's prowess lies in its ability to handle complex, content heavy websites that rely on large resource libraries and databases. Approximately 80-100 content creators contribute to the Tennessee Courts' website, with multiple clerks' offices across the state regularly uploading court opinions on a daily basis. Court documents from the 1990s to present are housed on our servers. Tncourts.gov serves as a research hub for lawyers and a resource for private individuals seeking information on services like "Justice 4 All" and access to court forms, including divorce papers.
MOBILE
The introduction of the initial version of the mobile-compatible site represents a significant advancement, providing enhanced navigation on phones and tablets, eliminating the need for inconvenient horizontal scrolling.
BRANDING
The site's branding underwent a redesign to simplify the mark. Noteworthy modifications include the removal of ".gov" for conciseness, a transition from "TNCOURTS" to TENNESSEE COURTS for clarity, and a change in typeface to a serif font, aligning with the judicial seal's typography. The Judicial seal retained its presence but underwent a transformation from white to a tri-color scheme incorporating gold and cream to complement the blue background.
Original Site Branding
New Branding
SITE VISUAL HISTORY
2003-2006
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2007-2023
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2023- 20??
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