Sitemap
This is where the Information Architecture begins. Whether it be a content audit of an existing site or building out a new one, a sitemap is a great start.
Annotated Sitemap
In order to show the user journeys or other key interactions, a grouped or annotated sitemap can be a great idea.
Heuristic Audit
One of the earliest things that may be done when analyzing a site that is up for a redo will be to perform an audit using predefined heuristics. This will explore many of the issues with a current design and will be used to assist future phases of the design.
Personas
Knowing your end user is a critical step in understanding what type of design will make them happy. Are they technical? Artsy? Do they need to perform complicated tasks, or just a quick hit? Knowing who they are and what they want is critical.
Business Process Flows
User flows, workflows, user flows, journeys, swim lane diagrams: there are a lot of different names and types, but they all boil down to documenting a complex process so that it can be redefined and improved.
Business Requirements Document
This type of document may live by other names, but we commonly refer to it as a BRD. It will contain all of the project goals, user stories, definitions, designs, wireframes, data maps, and any other type of documentation that will be required to create a full design. This is often the document that a client will sign off.
Wireframes
A wireframe is the main tool in the User Experience Architect’s bag of tricks. This contains all of the layout instruction and functional design detail that a graphic artist will need in order to make it look great, and also for a programmer to bring it to life through code.
Graphic Design
A User Experience Architect will rarely do the actual graphic design themselves. Instead, they will have an in-depth knowledge of Brand Essence, Colour Palettes, Style Guides, Pattern Libraries, latest trends, technical constraints, and more. They will use this knowledge to guide a visual designer towards a final design that the client approves.
Mobile
Do you need a dedicated mobile app, or only a device-responsive site? Sometimes the answer isn’t clear but we can help to figure it out with you and design and develop the solution that best meets your needs.
Development
Once the graphic design is complete, programmers will take the design and make it come to life with code.
Chris can write HTML, CSS, JavaScript, PHP, MySQL and other languages.