The Anatomy of a Successful Web Project – 18th April Workshop

My next workshop on this topic with the IIA is coming up on the 18th April – click here for more information and to book.

In preparation for that workshop, which will include topics such as:

• Initial ideas on what you want and what you need – realistic expectations
• Writing a specification document – format and detail
• Running a tender process – selecting developers, shortlisting and interviewing
• Managing the build once a developer is selecting
• Design
• Information Architecture
• CMS Integration
• Content Strategy

I summarised the 4 key phases of a successful build in the following document – please download and use as you wish.

Keith

Designing a user interface – the Clear ToDo app

I am a design groupie – I have always enjoyed well thought through and executed design of both physical and virtual objects. Not that an app is an “object”!

What is Good design?

It is not about glossy or quirky or brand identity or even just a strong visual statement – it is one of the key factors which makes a website or app useable for an individual. That is always a strong focus which has to be at the root of every web project I undertake with a client.

Simplify with Clear

This upcoming Clear app makes full use of the unique properties of the iPhone interface and while beauty is there the build from scratch reminds me of Flipboard too – leaving behind all traditional user interface conventions.

Clear for iPhone (Coming Soon!) from Realmac Software on Vimeo.

I like it a lot and look forward to the release of V1

Keith

Thanks to thenextweb which is where I spotted this

Information Architecture – or the sections and pages in a website

I am close to finishing the information architecture (IA) work for a large client project and have been using Omnigraffle for the first time.

While I am familiar with another product from their stable (Omnifocus) it took me a while to get used to this new one because it has such a different use. My choice of it was driven by IQContent (lead designers) as they used it for their initial IA overview.

However I am glad I made the effort because it made the visualisation of the site substantially easier. This is the format of the document it outputs.

I used colour coding for each layer of the site with the main navigation in green being successfully held to 5 choices and then each of those breaking down into upto 8 individual sections. The lowest level content (yellow) is very specific and limited to a relatively small user audience.

This document is used to drive:

• The requirement for content templates
• The allocation of sections to content editors for content preparation
• The identification of workflow paths with the new CMS

Keith

A simple way to learn

One of the tips I share with attendees of the IIA Successful Web Projects Workshop is to register on eTenders.ie and download copies of other businesses and organisations Requests for Tender/Proposal’s.

Nothing better than having access to public information which allows you to learn from other peoples documents in advance of writing your own. And while these documents are made readily available to you for the timespan that the tender is open they immediately disappear from view and are almost impossible to get thereafter.

Keith