A Scenario for Success

Process: A Scenario for Success

Creating a successful media entity means collecting adequate resources and getting them to work together effectively. A synthesis of business, technical and creative cultures.
The Project Scenario
Professional design leadership enables success. Here's how to get the very best Interaction Design:


	1. Early Client Engagement
	In the early stages of the project, the Interaction Designer attends the initial client meetings and actively articulates the customer's perspective on the site. The Interaction Designer must work with other team members to: emphasize team's ability to understand and carry through on the client's desires help the client to define their goals identify customer needs and describe "personas" offer creative solutions to client needs provide a tangible "vision" of the product not commit the team to unreasonable or undeliverable tasks
The Interaction Designer contributes immediate visual feedback through storyboarding, wireframes, flow charts and site mapping.

	2. Requirements Definition
	The Interaction Designer works with the Business Analyst to produce a Functional Requirements document that reflects the work flow, business case and information structure issues. The Interaction Designer works with the Technical Architect to produce a Technical Specification document that reflects the legacy issues, expected delivery platform, performance metrics, and data integration. The Interaction Designer produces an Interface Design document that defines the branding, stylesheet, usability, navigation, behavior and general "look and feel" issues.
The Interaction Designer records, interprets and communicates the vision.

	3. Site Development
	The Interaction Designer specifies the User Interface Architecture, which may include: site map, navigation, page layout, interface features, defaults, knowledge management tools, functionality and online help features. The Interaction Designer supervises the Graphic Artists to produce the Graphical Components that support site pages, documents and marketing presentations, such as: page templates, buttons and controls, logos, stylesheets, clip art, charts, graphs and animations The Interaction Designer may also work with the Technical Architect and Site Developers to produce Software Components that support the interactive experience at the front end.
The Interaction Designer defines the site environment.

	4. Strategic Support
	The Interaction Designer liases regularly with the Business Unit in order to keep the site on target and fresh. The Interaction Designer implements a Design Resource Center infrastructure that ensures compatibility, standards and "best practices". The Interaction Designer champions the process of Usability Testing and acceptance.
The Interaction Designer maintains a dynamic infrastructure.

The Interaction Designer's Role
As online interactive services become a way of life, it is the Interaction Designer who will put the finishing touches on the face of the product. The competitive edge among services will be determined in large part by the skill, talent, and effective coordination of the Web design staff.

Support the Project Team Provide design resources to all Project Teams:
Participate in project development process from inception Coordinate and maintain documentation Responsible for user interface design
Maintain UI Standards Enforce compliance, consistency and standards:
Define interface, behavior and performance through User Interface Design Guidelines Oversee all graphical elements developed for software user interface Systematize documentation processes
Process Management Champion and manage the product quality assurance process:
Establish the parameters for working relationship with Project Managers (deliverables, receivables) Establish and maintain online documentation system Enforce process discipline Manage graphic artists in production of templates, clip art, stylesheets, etc. Guide site developers in developing custom software and component code modules