Our Services
User-centered Design Process
1. Project Intake
A member of our staff meets with a potential client to establish quantifiable goals and objectives, identify target audiences, and define project resources including system specifications.
2. Research
This is a process of analysis. The client will be asked to identify stakeholders in their unit. Primary audiences (users) are also stakeholders and are involved at this stage. These are people who have a “stake” in the project and can offer background and information concerning the project. Stakeholders are interviewed individually and in groups to guide the scope of the project and to help define the goal of the Web site.
In addition, primary audiences are profiled using information provided by the client and from other sources. This information includes tasks that users will want to perform on the new Web site, environmental factors that influence the users, and identification of peer competitors (what other Web sites are they looking at?).
Focus groups are held in order to determine user needs and preferences. In addition, an online survey will be conducted on the current Web site to help to identify strengths and weaknesses.
3. Agreement
Our staff will return to the client with a Stakeholder Report and a proposal based on that report. The Stakeholder Report will inform the details of the project including scope, colors, images, architecture, and programming, as well as a creative concept. The proposal will include a timeline and will identify roles and outline a budget.
The client will be asked to examine the report and the proposal making any changes at this time. Creative Services will require a signed approval of the proposal.
4. Concepting
The Web team will hold brainstorm sessions. Communication objectives will be integrated with imagery, navigation, and programming. This will result in a creative concept.
5. Information Design
The information architect will create an information architecture based on the needs of the unit and the needs of the users. Category headings and descriptions will be woven into a “prototype” information design.
6. Prototype Usability Testing
The prototype will be tested with users to validate the information structure and effectiveness of the language. Once the architecture is validated, it will be placed on a local server. The URL will be sent to the client for review. The client will be asked to examine the entire architecture including terminology, hierarchy, and content organization. The client should ask questions and make comments at this time. The client will send a final written approval to Creative Services.
7. Content Development
During this process, the client will take an active role in providing content to Web team writers. Together, they will identify content and media that may be repurposed, from print or electronic publications and they will create new content or media. The client may participate in acquiring licenses and transferring files.
As sections are completed, the client and/or others will be asked to review their content and provide final written approval.
8. Interaction Design
The interactive designer will resolve interactive elements and program scripting. This may involve Flash elements for mini animations, Perl scripting for dynamic rotations, etc.
9. Visual Design
The interactive designer will draw from the creative concept as well as from other marketing campaigns, current trends, and user profiles. An electronic design will be developed and placed on a local server. The URL will be sent to the client. The client(s) will be asked to examine all design elements including colors, fonts, photo placement, and overall look and feel. The client should ask questions and make comments at this time. The client will send a final written approval to Creative Services.
10. Production
The designer will develop electronic templates based on the specifications and approved designs. Web developers will synthesize programming code with content and graphics and install the prototype into a test environment. They will create two search templates needed for the IU search engine. They will code and test any forms and create a custom 404 error page.
11. Usability Testing
The Web team will perform another usability test with a representative user sample.
12. Implementation
Once the site is completed, it will be archived on our local server and uploaded to the new account. Following the launch, our staff will contact the IU search server administrator asking to re-index the new Web site. The client will be responsible for marketing the new Web site.
