website development process. skills and functions needed for a successful large-scale project...
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Skills and Functions Needed for a Successful Large-Scale Project
Project Manager Marketing Representative Copy Writer & Editor Content Manager Graphic Designer Database Administrator Network Administrator Information Architect Web Developer
Skills and Functions Needed for a Successful Small Project
The skills and functions are essentially the same as on a large project
Each person may wear many “hats” and juggle their job roles
•Example: The web developer may also be the graphic designer.
Some job roles may be outsourced •Most Common: •An external web site provider is used so there is
less (if any) need for a Network Administrator
Usability (HCI)
Aka: Usability Engineering, User Centered Design, User Experience Design, Information Design, Information Architecture, Interaction Design
Ease of USE!Usability generally describes two different
areas: ◦How easy a product is to use ◦The industry & discipline concerned with
measuring ease-of-use
Usability Components
Usability is defined by five quality components (Jakob Nielson): ◦Learnability: How easy is it for users to
accomplish basic tasks the first time they encounter the design?
◦Efficiency: Once users have learned the design, how quickly can they perform tasks?
◦Memorability: When users return to the design after a period of not using it, how easily can they reestablish proficiency?
◦Errors: How many errors do users make, how severe are these errors, and how easily can they recover from the errors?
◦Satisfaction: How pleasant is it to use the design?
Web Usability
Web usability is an approach to make web sites easy to use for an end-user, without requiring her (or him) to undergo any specialized training. The user should be able to intuitively relate the actions he needs to perform on the web page, with other interactions he sees in the general domain of life e.g. press of a button leads to some action.
Why it is Important?
Improve Your Visitor Retention RateDiscover Which Parts of Your Web Site Are
Failing and Why Improve the Brand Experience of Your
Customers Improve Your Understanding of Your
Customers Increase Sales and Profits
Every £1 invested in improving your website's usability returns £10 to £100 (source: IBM)
A web usability redesign can increase the sales/conversion rate by 100% (source: Jakob Nielson)
.
2. We don't make optimal choices, we sacrifice.
We're usually in a hurry There's not much penalty for guessing
incorrectly Weighing options may not improve our
chances Guessing is more fun
.
3. We don't figure out how things work, we muddle through.
Why bother? When we find something that works, we stick with it.
So….conventions are our friends.
Common web usability problems
cluttered or otherwise poor layoutrequires horizontal scrolling, or makes
assumptions about user's screen sizepoorly chosen colorsuses framesuses splash screen(s)poor or missing navigation controls (Back,
Forward, Home)text is not scannable (can't be read quickly)
Content usability problems
most important content isn't on the first pagenondescript headingstoo many ads (or things that appear to be ads)important site content is contained in PDF
documentsisn't designed to be easily indexed by a search
engine(HTML title, meta tags, page text, link text, etc.)
tiny thumbnails of detailed large photos
Link usability problems
links that don't say where they gobadly chosen link text (such as "Click here
for more info")links that forcibly open a new browser
windowlinks opened by complex Javascript
needlesslyvisited links don't appear in a different
color
Design for Usability (1-4)
place your name and logo on every page and make the logo a link to the home page
provide searchwrite straightforward and simple headlines
and page titles that clearly explain what the page is about
structure the page to facilitate scanning and help users ignore large chunks of the page in a single glance
Design for Usability (2-4)
instead of cramming everything about a product or topic into a single, infinite page, use hypertext to structure the content space into a starting page that provides an overview and several secondary pages that each focus on a specific topic (Information Architecture)
use link titles to provide users with a preview of where each link will take them, before they have clicked on it
Design for Usability (3-4)
Use relevance-enhanced image reduction when preparing small photos and images.
Ensure that all important pages are accessible for users with disabilities, especially blind users
Do the same as everybody else: if most big websites do something in a certain way, then follow along since users will expect things to work the same on your site (Conventions)
Design for Usability (4-4)
Jakob's Law of the Web User Experience: users spend most of their time on other sites, so that's where they form their expectations for how the Web works
Test your design with real users as a reality check. People do things in odd and unexpected ways, so even the most carefully planned project will learn from usability testing.
The Home page
As quickly as possible the Home page must answer these four questions:◦ What is this?◦ What do they have here?◦ What can I do here?◦ Why am I here—and not somewhere else?
Every page needs a name…
We must remind the user where they are, and they should be able to get back home.
Forms and usability
client-side validationlighting up required elements left blank or
filled out incorrectlyavoiding alert unless absolutely necessary
Writing for the web
People read web page text differently than they read books, etc.
Writing for the web includes: ◦subheads◦bulleted lists ◦highlighted keywords ◦short paragraphs ◦ the "inverted pyramid"
(put the most newsworthy information at the top, and then the remaining information follows in order of importance, with the least important at the bottom)
◦a simple writing style
Web Development: Conceptualization
Determine the intended/target audience Determine the goals or mission of the web site •Short-term goals •Long-term goals Main Job Roles Involved: •Client, Project Manager, Information
Architect, Marketing Representative, Senior Web Developer
Web Development: Conceptualization
Analysis
Determine the following: •information topics •functionality requirements (high-level) Determine “what” a site will do – not “how” it will
do it •environmental requirements •content requirements Review competitor’s sites (Competitive Analysis -
what are the others doing?)
Competitive Analysis
A high level analysis of major competitors is vital to a website’s success. It is better to know the competition’s strengths and weaknesses before you finalize your website strategy.
Basic Steps: 1. Identify the competition 2. Decide what to analyze 3. Develop a competition survey 4. Answer survey for each competitor 5. Analyze survey data 6. Write a report of the findings and recommendations
Design
1. We needs to keep track of the site structure and organization
2. Prototype the design •Determine a page layout design
Site structure
It is important to consider the structure of your site:
•What pages do you have and/or need? •How are pages related to each other?
Home Page
About us
Shipping information
Contact us
Hierarchical Organization
A clearly defined home page Navigation links to major site sections Often used for commercial and corporate
Web sites
Hierarchical Too Shallow
Be careful that the organization is not too shallow.
•Too many choices a confusing and less usable web site
•Information Chunking •“seven plus or minus two” principle •Many web designers try not to place more
than nine major navigation links on a page or in a well-defined page area.
Hierarchical Too Deep
Be careful that the organization is not too deep. •This results in many “clicks” needed to drill
down to the needed page. •User Interface “Three Click Rule” •A web page visitor should be able to get from
any page on your site to any other page on your site with a maximum of three hyperlinks.
Linear Organization
A series of pages that provide a tutorial, tour, or presentation.
Sequential viewing
Random Organization
Sometimes called “Web” Organization. Usually there is no clear path through the
site. May be used with artistic or concept sites. Not typically used for commercial sites.
Navigation
People don’t always work from the home page – they get to a page from a link or from a search
Every page of a site should let you know: •Where am I •What’s here •Where can I go now
Navigation
Major types of navigation: •Global (across the website) •Local (for a subsection of the website)
Web Site Navigation Best Practices
Make your site easy to navigate •Provide clearly labeled navigation in
the same location on each page •Most common – across top or down left
side •Provide “breadcrumb” navigation
Use Sitemap for organization
A sitemap shows the hierarchy of the site. It lets a writer, designer, or developer see the relationship among all the pages of the site at a glance.
Wireframe
A sketch of blueprint of a Web page Shows the structure of the basic page
elements, including: •Logo •Navigation •Content •Footer
Wireframes do not include any reference to color, typography, or visual imagery
Web Development: Production
Choose a web authoring tool Organize your site files Develop and individually test components Add content Main Job Roles Involved: •Project Manager, Senior Web Developer,
Web Developer, Graphic Designer, Database Administrator, Content Manager
Web Development: Testing
Test on different web browsers and browser versions Test with different screen resolutions Test using different bandwidths Test from another location Test, Test, Test Main Job Roles Involved: •Project Manager, Web Developer, Tester
(sometimes web developer, sometimes Quality Assurance person), Client, Content Manager
Web Development: Types of Testing
Automated Testing Tools and Validation • Automated Testing (Link checkers, etc.) •W3C XHTML and CSS validation tests Usability Testing •Testing how actual web page visitors use a web site •Can be done at almost any stage of development Early –- use paper and sketches of pages Design – use prototype Production & Testing – use actual pages
Web Development: Approval & Launch
User or Client Testing •Client will test site before giving official
approval for site launch Approval & Launch •Obtain sign-off form or email from client •Upload files to web server •Create backup copies of files •MAKE SURE YOU TEST THE WEB SITE AGAIN!
Web Development: Maintenance
Maintenance – the never -ending task… •Enhancements to site •Fixes to site •New areas added to site A new opportunity or issue is identified
and another loop through the development process begins.
Web Development: Evaluation
Re-visit the goals, objectives, and mission of the web site
Determine how closely they are being met Develop a plan to better meet the goals,
objectives and mission
Conclusion
Web Accessibility # Web Usability◦ Webster defines accessibility as "capable of being
reached," and it defines usability as "capable of being used."
◦ Usability: Designing web pages to be more effective, efficient, satisfying for all
◦ Accessibility: focuses on improving access to content for individuals with disabilities .
•What site is this?– Logo in top-left corner
denotes the site– Another logo at top-right to
reinforce
•What site is this?–Logo in top-left corner
denotes the site–Another logo at top-right to
reinforce
• What kind of site isthis?
–Shopping cart icon–Tab row content–Categories on left–Prices in content area
•What kind of site is this?
–Shopping cart icon–Tab row content–Categories on left–Prices in content area
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•What can I do here?–Welcomefor new visitors –Tab row / Search on top–“Categories”–Prices–All links are clear
•What can I do here?–Welcome for new visitors–Tab row / Search on top–“Categories”–Prices–All links are clear
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•Above the Fold– Most important info visible
without scrolling
•Above the Fold–Most important info visible
without scrolling
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•What site am I in?– Logo in upper-left reinforces
brand, can click to go tohome
– Same font, layout, colorscheme also reinforces
•What site am I in?–Logo in upper-left reinforces
brand, can click to go to home
–Same font, layout, color scheme also reinforces
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• Where am I in thesite?
–“ Home > Music” are locationbreadcrumbs
–Tab row says “Music”– Album cover, “Product
Highlights”, and CD cover
•Where am I in the site?
–“Home > Music” are location breadcrumbs
–Tab row says “Music”–Album cover, “Product
Highlights”, and CD cover
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•What can I do?– See more info about this
album–“Buy!” “Buy!” “Buy”!– See more info about specific
CDs
•What can I do?–See more info about this
album–“Buy!” “Buy!” “Buy”!–See more info about specific
CDs
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• Can I trust thesesellers ?
–Who am I buying from?–Are they reputable?–What about shipping?
•Can I trust these sellers ?
–Who am I buying from?–Are they reputable?–What about shipping?
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•What site am I in ?–Logo in upper-left–Colors, layout, font
•What site am I in ?–Logo in upper-left–Colors, layout, font
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• Where am I in thesite?
–Last link clicked was “Buy”!–“ Shopping Cart” and
”Proceed to Checkout“ reinforce that this is “the
right page”
•Where am I in the site?
–Last link clicked was “Buy”!–“Shopping Cart” and
“Proceed to Checkout” reinforce that this is “the
right page”
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• What am I going tobuy?
–Easy to remove–Easy to move to wishlist
• How much will itcost?
– Shipping costs there, nonasty surprises
•What am I going to buy?
–Easy to remove–Easy to move to wishlist
•How much will it cost?
–Shipping costs there, no nasty surprises
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•What can I do?–“ ”Proceed to Checkout
action button–Visually distinct–3D, looks clickable– Repeated above and
below the fold
•What can I do?–“Proceed to Checkout”
action button–Visually distinct–3D, looks clickable–Repeated above and
below the fold
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• What if I don’t havea User ID?
• What if I forgot mypassword?
•What if I don’t have a User ID?
•What if I forgot my password?
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•Error message–Small, hard to see– Too far away from where
people will be looking– Page looks too similar to last
page (did anything happen?)
•Error message–Small, hard to see–Too far away from where
people will be looking–Page looks too similar to last
page (did anything happen?)
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•What site?–Logo, layout, color, fonts
•Where in site?–Checkout, step 1 of 3–“Choose shipping address”
•What site?–Logo, layout, color, fonts
•Where in site?–Checkout, step 1 of 3–“Choose shipping address”
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• Note what’sdifferent
–No tab rows– Only navigation on page
takes you to next step
• This is a ProcessFunnel
– Extraneous info and linksremoved to focus users
•Note what’s different
–No tab rows–Only navigation on page
takes you to next step
•This is a Process Funnel
–Extraneous info and links removed to focus users
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Quick-Flow Checkouts
•Last step of process–Step 3, “Place Order”–“Place my order” button
•Two buttons for fold
•Last step of process–Step 3, “Place Order”–“Place my order” button
•Two buttons for fold
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Quick-Flow Checkouts•No nasty surprises
–Can see order– Total price is same as
shopping cart
•No nasty surprises–Can see order–Total price is same as
shopping cart
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Quick-Flow Checkouts• Easy to change
shipping and billing• Easy to save this
info– Easier to setup info in
context of specific taskinstead of setup first
– Clearer to users why this infois needed in former
•Easy to change shipping and billing
•Easy to save this info
–Easier to setup info in context of specific task
instead of setup first–Clearer to users why this info
is needed in former