Packaging World formally unveiled its newest Web site design today, its fourth in five years. (Also just launched is a supplier directory called VendorConnect--see separate story.)
The new design features drop-down menus that automatically appear as the user moves his or her mouse over them. Such menus not only make it easier for users to quickly navigate through the site, they free up more screen real estate for news.
Since news is now displayed in two columns on the home page versus one previously, that halves the amount of scrolling that's required.
The searchable archive, which now exceeds 10ꯠ articles, is given a much easier-to-find location at the top of every page. Just below the search box is a quick link to the site's one-click searches, consisting of predefined searches hand-crafted by the editors themselves.
The striking new design was the handiwork of Packaging World's new art director, Dave Bacho. Bacho is also responsible for redesigning the print magazine as it relaunches in a more contemporary 9x11 size in January 2002.
Packaging World was one of the first packaging publications to launch a Web site in August 1996. It contains the Web's only searchable archive of more than 10ꯠ articles. It has launched a number of firsts in the packaging marketplace, the latest of which is a growing library of in-plant video clips at www.packworld.tv, launched in early 2001.
