Web Administration: Web Resources
Building a Web Site
Project Definition | Information Architecture | Design & Testing
Design & Testing
Concept Development
We develop some initial ideas and discuss the features custom to each individual design. That leads to initial prototypes to explore the possibilities in more detail.
This process is always worthwhile. It may be the first time that everyone's been in one room to discuss the UI in detail. We're not just talking, though, we're doing something. That really brings out the ideas that people haven't discussed for one reason or another. We're sharing assumptions: everyone's thought about what the site should look like. If we don't share those thoughts, it'll be a problem later.
Tools: Flashcards, Paper, Graphics Application
1. Have a vague idea (as a designer) before the design phase ever comes up. Gather ideas by looking at other sites that function the same as your site may function.
a. Notice navigation, style, placement of design elements and handeling of branding.
b. Notice what web technology is being used (flash, CSS, video, etc...)
2. As a designer, you need to take all the info compiled from the planning stages (and combine those elements into one cohesive "design".
a. Building a site is like putting an interactive digital puzzle together.
b. Site elements were placed on a page in the wireframe phase... now it's your job, as a designer, to convey those elements in the University of Florida's "brand" and "style".
User interface design isn't just arranging stuff on a page or in a dialog box. The interesting (and hard) part is the user & business research. In planning the UI, we figure out who the users are, what they'll be doing, how your site requirements fit in. At that point, we start designing a UI to meet your goals. Usability testing may be included in the process to be sure the design is on the right track.
Here we develop design directions and work on prototypes, which become more complete over time. Usability testing helps validate our assumptions.
Visual Design
By this time, the visual design has progressed to the point where we can combine it with the interactions and navigation. You've probably seen software that was too confusing to use; frequently that's because no one focused on typography, color and creating a visual hierarchy.
Usability Testing
There's nothing like watching real users work on your product. It's sometimes very humbling. We can run studies on anything from paper prototypes to finished software.