In all our experience, it’s always been clear that the best solution design stems from close collaboration between key team members, from the project’s outset:
- Client stakeholders
- End user representatives
- Technical owner responsible for build
- Creative resource
- User experience/information architects
- Programme/project managers
Evolving requirements
Change happens, particularly as the design process moves forward.
The ability to manage such changes effectively is a crucial skill, and Building Blocks have developed specialist expertise in this area.
End user definition
We like to know precisely who we’re designing for, so we adhere to user centred design principles. We’ll work closely with you to agree user personas, scenarios and goals. These are benchmarks of a sound design process, and we place a lot of emphasis on getting the information feeds right:
- Data analysis for customer profiling
- Interviews and usability testing – for insight into customer motivations and behaviours related to existing competitor sites
- Task based analysis Fictional personas – a good way for design teams to ‘sanity check’ ideas
- Scenario and customer journey development for testing internally and with real users
User interface design
It makes sense to us to emulate as closely as possible the interaction and functionality of the proposed solution.
Click through wireframes help a great deal in achieving this, as they allow stakeholders to experience ‘hands on’ how the final system can work. Wireframes also often highlight extra requirements, and allow early usability testing.
Technical solution architecture
The structure that will support the solution’s functions and features is developed by a Building Blocks technical consultant, in parallel with the interface design.
This ‘nut and bolts’ work will also include integration with external applications, deployment processes, solution support, scalability, performance and future proofing.
Creative design
Only when we’re satisfied that the solution’s structure is sound do we apply the creative. It’s not that we see the look as less of a priority, we just want to be certain that the design works and is scalable before the creative design is included.
Prototyping and usability testing
For realism in testing’s sake, prototypes are often fully rendered, in line with the solution’s defined persona scenarios. We action usability sessions using techniques such as ‘Think Aloud Protocol’ and eye tracking. This really helps us see and analyse user reaction as it happens in a realistic setting.
Build team handover
Handing over the design to the build team can be a critical time. To mitigate any risk at this point, Building Blocks will have already involved build team people in the design process, so they’re up to speed with the solution when they take on its ownership.
This security is supported even further by presenting the final deliverable of the design phase as detailed work specifications and assets.