This is Signal vs. Noise, a weblog by 37signals about design, business, experience, simplicity, the web, culture, and more. Established 1999 in Chicago. Follow us on Twitter for more information on our products.

This makes me so happy. As a Mizzou Alumni, I like to think that we produce great students and professionals. Mizzou Engineering, way to go. Way to adopt 37signals principles and apply them.

Mmm, too bad that in 5 secondsI spotted a coding error.

http://engineering.missouri.edu/#4

Thanks Nerian! That was quick!

The home page probably won’t validate (I’ve tried), but I’d be happy to learn how to make it better.

Suggestions?

Awesome infographic! I really feel the heart behind this, and it shows me really who you are as a school. Lying to students might get them to come to your school, but they won’t tell their friends, they won’t give back as alumn. Being straight forward right off the bat is so important.

Terrible infographic because it wasn’t filled with “stats” but rather just random #’s (e.g. “8.5×11” indicating a piece of paper dimensions).

That’s a powerful infographic. A lot of great information there and plenty that can be transferred over to a regular site like mine.

I especially like the part where they only go for their clients. Instead of pulling in everyone, they only pull in those students who fit with their school. It’s a fantastic idea for all our sites

Like it. If i was looking at schools that would make me more interested although I’m not sure if it would have impacted 18 year old me.

@Matt

“Like it. If i was looking at schools that would make me more interested although I’m not sure if it would have impacted 18 year old me.”

Totally agree.

Plus, why would an ENGINEERING student even care about this?

What if it was an engineering student who understands how the Web and design are communication tools? And how communication is usually more important than engineering skills? You can always find decent engineers, but good communicators are one in a thousand among the engineers. Maybe that’s the kind of engineering student they are interested in – not just gear-heads.

I have been in State government engineering long enough to know that engineering itself is only part of the story.

@Dave M – Good insight. As it turns out, I hear Basecamp get mentioned amongst our students in managing their capstone projects. Also, within Engineering is our Computer Science and IT Program to whom I think web design might be of some distant interest.

In addition, it was suggested in a student blog recently that our site should have a Jobs Board style section.

We are not staffed to pull that off, but if the Job Board could be spun off as a product by the Signals, it would be a possibility. (hint, hint) Thanks to everyone for their input.

Love it!

@Charlie Triplett

“In addition, it was suggested in a student blog recently that our site should have a Jobs Board style section.

We are not staffed to pull that off,...”

You’re not staffed to pull to build a Jobs Boards ?

Universities have the most abundant resources EVER with near unlimited free labor in STUDENTS .

Just make it homework assignment for a student to create.

@Ben

Students are a great fit for small/short focused projects because of their erratic schedules. That’s where embracing constraints comes in. They still learn, get paid and come out with successful experience. I’ve had some great computer science students working for me (for pay).

But they do graduate, which means they can’t build things we can maintain in the long term, leaving me in a pickle.

Also, I don’t know how I feel about “free” labor. I think that if someone adds value, they should be paid for it.

If someone else from .edu world has a successful plan for leading students to build sustainable products, please le’me know. I’d honestly be interested.

Inspiring.