Introduction

To achieve a user-friendly interface on ABB's Web solutions, all content providers to ABB Web sites, both internal and external, should follow the Web standard. In this way we can all contribute to supporting and enhancing the ABB brand globally.

A set of standard templates is available for publishing on all ABB's Web channels, both ABB Internet and ABB intranet, to ensure a consistent graphic design, navigation, page structure, use of colors and typography.

In addition, we have developed common guidelines for designing visual elements, interaction elements and interaction processes to ensure Web sites that are easy to understand and use.

In order to distinguish the Web channels from each others visually, there is one version of the design for www.abb.com and one for inside.abb.com. Both versions have the ABB look and feel, but they vary slightly. Some colors and elements are common for both versions and some are specific for each channel.

Different intro pages have been designed for the different channels, depending on the various communication needs.

The categories or content sections on www.abb.com are labeled with different colors. There is one color available for each content category. The section colors are used to identify the different content sections, and should only be used on related content.

In order to ensure a strong visual identity and optimum quality of the images on www.abb.com, we have designed mastheads with images and animations for each category. A masthead is to be used only on the category it is designed for, to make it easier for the user to identify where he is.

As a general rule, ABB country sites should follow the same standards as ABB Internet. For all country sites, the categories in the level 1 of the top menu are set. You should, however, develop subordinate content to suit the local needs and interests of each country.

It is important to note that the section colors are only permitted for use on the corresponding categories. You cannot use them on content belonging to other categories. To distinguish the country sites from the global site, a specific intro page is used on the country sites.

The name of country sites will be: ABB in Sweden; ABB in Germany, etc. URL for countries: www.abb.se, www.abb.co.uk or www.abb.com/country code (if national ABB domain is not available).

ABB intranet includes all Web pages and other Web-based services that are available to ABB employees throughout the corporate network. On the intranet, the main colors are in shades of blue. The different categories on inside.abb.com (News, Our Profile etc) do not have their own color, but site colors are defined for ABB Group, divisions and countries.

Unlike the ABB Internet, there are no specific graphics belonging to one particular category. You are free to choose among the available mastheads. It is also possible to create new mastheads for publishing on the intranet.

Local intranets

Local intranets follow the same standards as the global intranet.

Country intranets will be named inside/se, inside/us, etc., and will be accessible through the level 1 menu of inside.abb.com. The unique URL for a country intranet is inside.abb.com/se, inside.abb.com/us, etc. The division intranets follow the same pattern.

These guidelines set the standards for colors, graphic design, typography, navigation and interaction, as well as the page structure.

Whether your application or tool is integrated in the content frame of the frameset or opened in a separate window, it should have the same colors and appearance as the channel or category it is related to; for example, blue if related to inside.abb.com, or green if related to Products & Services on the ABB Internet.

There may be a few situations where it might not be feasible to design an application to ABB's standards. See Applications & Tools for more information.