Design Principles, Session 2

Agenda

• Assignment review
  • You must complete all assignments to get credit for the class.
    
  • Small groups: Discuss mission of organization and website; discuss the three features that your site must match/include based on your analysis of competitor websites.
  • Large group: we’ll discuss needed features
  • Examples of redesigns from prior classes
  • Examples of competitor websites from prior classes
• Revisit site choice
  • Not Big Site/Company! (Remember my plea last week)
  • Not a single page or very small section (as a general statement)
• Revisit site goals
  • The reasons for a redesign are not what we are looking for with site goals. Site goals help you assess the success of the project.
  • How does web site or application support bricks-and-mortar business? A virtual business?
  • Examples:
    “This site purpose [is] to attract new students for the academy and also [to] be used as a resource for its current students.”
    “The purpose of this website will … [include serving] as a tool for customers to order tea in bulk and sign up for a monthly newsletter.”
• Revisit SMART goals
  • 10% increase in click through rate to contact in first six months after launch
  • 3 events scheduled through the site in the first month
  • Metrics are proxies for what (IOW, why are we measuring this thing?)

Lecture/discussion

• What is information architecture? (Lynda.com)
• Should I use a carousel?
• Why do users visit our websites or download or apps? How do we identify their pain points?
  I want to [ …] because […].
  When I try […this…], […that…] happens instead.
  I wish […].

Handouts

• PPT
• Skill check 2 (includes examples)

Class projects

Links

• Finding your true mission in seven steps (Hint water)
• Information architecture versus information design (Designrfix.com)
• Inspirational missions statements (BrandVox – read the lead in)

Assignments

1. Complete week two skill check (Dropbox)
   Email (to gmail account) completed form (PDF or .docx, no Notes) to me by 6 pm on Tuesday
2. Bring ideas about color and what needs to be on the home page
3. Come prepared to give a 5-7 minute presentation on your project to a small group of classmates. This will take place in the second half of the class. Your PPT is your third skill check.
4. Read the remainder of the book, The Elements of User Experience