Visual Elements

Photography

• Use color photos and videos that are relevant to the overall subject matter on the page; they should supplement the information already on the page by helping tell your story, not distract from it.
• For photos in a lab or similar environment, be sure all safety protocols are being followed (photo subjects wearing appropriate lab safety gear, etc.).
• Requests for new header or hero images must be submitted to cmshelp@wpi.edu. Logos, graphics, or images with text overlay cannot be used in a banner or hero image.
• All images should be resized appropriately for web use. Do not skew, stretch, or warp images out of perspective.
• Do not use Google Images. If you need a photo that is not available or can’t be taken, search istock.com for an appropriate image and send the link to marketing-photography@wpi.edu and we will determine if we can purchase the image for you and/or find an alternative that properly represents WPI’s branding guidelines. Alternatively, we may have photos already available that suit your needs; email us with your visual needs and we will search our collection for an appropriate WPI image.
• Rather than going with posed group shots, opt for tight shots featuring 1 to 3 individuals who are engaged in hands-on activity. Also, consider diversity and inclusion and aim for overall representation of your students, faculty, etc.
• All images visible to users must have meaningful, descriptive alt tags to comply with Section 508 Standards regarding accessibility guidelines. The alt tag provides a clear text alternative of the image for screen reader users and those who are visually impaired.
  • The World Wide Web Consortium accessibility guidelines suggest that you imagine reading the picture/illustration aloud over the telephone. What would you say about the image to make your listeners understand it? Shorter is better: A good rule of thumb is to keep it between 5 and 15 words. 
  • Examples: Aerial view of Boynton Hall; President Laurie Leshin
• All images used should be professional quality and follow copyright laws. Either use images provided by the university or get written permission to use the image. If you would like to submit a photo for WPI’s use, use this link to upload and agree to our terms and conditions: wpi.today/photo-form
• Because large file sizes may slow down the website and have a negative impact on both user experience (particularly for mobile users) and SEO, file sizes larger than 2 MB may be taken down without notice.
• View and download select high quality images from our database of campus photos, including aerial shots, academic buildings, and other iconic spots around campus.

Videos

• The only video sources that can be embedded on the WPI website are YouTube and Ensemble.
• To add a video to WPI’s YouTube channel or WPI’s Ensemble video library, send the video file to cmshelp@wpi.edu.
  • If you have a video from an external source that you would like to point to, use an existing widget (examples: timely box, highlight box, etc.) and link to it.
• Do not use videos as primary sources of information. With shrinking attention spans, do not expect users to stay on the page long enough to watch a full video. Industry standards suggest 60 to 120 seconds is an ideal length.

All videos posted on wpi.edu must be ADA compliant and therefore must be captioned.