need a new website? wait! have you gone through a discovery process? (may 2013, pdxtech4good.org)

Need a New Website? Wait! Have You Gone Through a Discovery Process? Hashtag: #13NTCDisc

Sean Larkin & Brett Meyer

Session Subtitle:

Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

Everybody wants a pony...

3 Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

But there are many types of ponies.

Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

So let’s avoid making assumptions.

5

Core concepts

Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

• Websites are tools that promote behavioral change

• Content is King

• Understanding what’s at stake, and for whom

• The challenges of working with people and technology

• Waterfall vs. Agile in planning and development

6 Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

Websites should promote behavior change

• Nobody outside of your office understands 95% of what you say at work

• The Curious, the Concerned, and the Committed

• The “Ladder of Engagement”

7

Content is king

Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

• There’s no substitute for good writing and compelling multimedia

• Good content is often less expensive than functionality

• Content can be used across channels

• “Mobile First” = Design for real content

8

Let’s kick off Discovery

Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

9

The Equation:

Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

Your organization’s

goals

Your audiences’ motivations

Money & Time

The content, design, and functionality you release

+ + =

10

Society for the Advanced Awareness of Animals Riding

Other Animals

Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

11

Information architecture

Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

1. First pass at Entity Relationship Diagram

2. Site map development - Round #1Clickable wireframes - Round #1Budget CheckDetailed Entity Relationship Diagram/SpecificationClickable wireframes - Round #2

12

Graphic Design

Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

1. Design brief and style guideDesign in the browserStyle tile development

13

Project Plan and Schedule

Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

1. Finalized implementation budgetContent matrixDevelopment schedule and project planQA planTraining plan

14

Kicking off development

Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

• You can iterate on discovery documentation, but version control it!

• Iterative development cycles with weekly deliverables (Don’t cheat on this)

• Report back to internal stakeholders every week

15

Tools of the trade

Website Discovery Process (#13NTCDisc)

• Note cards, note cards, and more note cardsA camera....

• Google Docs (no MS Word Docs)

• Trello, Stormboard or StixyPinterestOmnigraffleFoundation wireframesGitHub Pages

• ThinkShout’s collection of sample Discovery docs