Business Process
Your process, our process....Technology is for enhancing your business, such as quicker to print, data storage, sharing data between departments. In the February 16, 2007 CIO.com, Thad Hunter reminds us that "modifying a key operational process requires designing new workflows, defining new roles and responsibilities, collecting different data, managing service levels, acting on feedback from dashboards and integrating disparate databases. " In this section, we talk about one very focused operational process, that of creating your front door. Whether your web site is a simple brochure or a complex web application for communicatig and itneracting with your customers and partners, web developers and designers alike follow a design process.
With my background in business process development, I wanted to take a look at the process behind the scenes for web site development.
User Interface Development Process
Disclaimer: this section is under development. Design goals include matching heading sizes to quickly depict related concepts while not "blowing up" the home page layout.
Information Architecture
Web IA - interface design, navigation design, layout, and so forth, is a critical component to web design. Successful marketing on the web goes beyond visual design. As a 3-dimensional medium, the hyperlink, meta, and taxonomy architectures are key.
Process
Here we illustrate some of steps URLyGrl.com used to augment the simple home page+ blog site. For funded projects, these steps, in addition to serving as a reference during the design phases, serve to capture decisions made. this can be particularly useful during project scope change decisions. (Web Style Guide, 2nd Ed. Retreived from the web 4/15/2006 from WebStyleGuide.com )
Site Map
Wireframe
Vision is usually described in documents in written language, describing purpose, mission, and key success factors or problems to be solved. Here, I have depicted a slide for vision deleopment as a reminder of its importance in the interface design process. While designing an interface, the big picture should always be cross-checked.
WireFrame - Home Page
Home Pages typically get a lot of focus. Opinions differ on whether it should be barely more than a "splash page" or doorway to the compact, one-stop-fits-all portal-style page. Regardless of approach, this page can make it or break it.
WireFrame - Level 2
Wireframe Level 2 is often a different layout from the home page. Refer to level 2 page for a view and details. Remember that this page could become the primary entrance rather than home page, so keep a reference back home and other key places in your web system.
Style Guide
