Westwood GD437

Eve Fisher, Instructor, efisher@westwood.edu

Lecture:
- Course Introduction
- Know Your Audience
- Design Considerations
- The Software Development Process
- Working as a Team
Reading Assignment: Chapters 1-3 Review Questions
Project Assignment: Project Planning
Class Folders for Projects: Set up a folder with your name and the class name on your Flash drive. Create folders for Weeks 1-9 in the folder. Place projects and assignments in these folders and turn in each week for grading. Weekly assignments will be placed in the GD437 folder on instructor's computer.

Lecture:
- Analyzing an Existing Site
- Create a Flow Diagram
- Establishing the Purpose of the Application
Reading Assignment: Chapter 4 Review Questions
Key Graded Assignment #1: Goal Setting and Needs Analysis Phase 1
- Phase 1 - Create an RFP for your company/product
Project Assignment: Site Goals

Lecture: Chapters 4 & 5
- Defining the Problem
- Creative Problem Solving
Reading Assignment: Chapter 5 Review Questions
Key Graded Assignment #1: Goal Setting and Needs Analysis Phases 2 - 3
- Phase 2 - Respond to 2 other RFPs (first and second choice) by asking questions, following up with classmates and then submitting 2 proposals (1 for each site)
- Phase 3 - After being selected, meet with client/classmate to develop site outline (based on competitive analysis of related sites)
Group Project - Due July 15: Create outline for presentation to the Microbusiness Development Center (MDC) and assign each member of the group to one subject area (TBD). The presentation will explain how to select and work with a developer/designer to create a website. What are the questions to ask and steps the client needs to take before, during and after the project?

Lecture:
- Selecting Controls with the User in Mind
- Designing Navigation with the User in Mind
Reading Assignment: Chapters 6 & 7 Review Questions
Key Graded Assignment #1: Goal Setting and Needs Analysis Phases 4-6
- Phase 4 - Create a client/customer survey (samples under Resources) with 15 questions
- Phase 5 - Create 3 personas of potential site users
- Phase 6 - Develop one or more "happy path" task flow charts for each of the site personas. Develop a list of features needed for the site as a result of mapping the user tasks.
Group Project:
- Continue researching your content area
- Create PPT slides for presentation to MDC client

Lecture:
- Using Design Specifications to Promote Client Involvement
- Building a design business and working with clients
Reading Assignment: Chapters 12 & 14 Questions
Class Presentations: KGA #1
Group Project:
- Continue researching your content area
- Create PPT slides for presentation to MDC client

Lecture: Solving Design Problems & Designing for Accessibility
Reading Assignment: Chapters 8 & 11 Review Questions
Key Graded Assignment #2: Designing a Website
- Content Grading Rubric
- Create wireframes/storyboards with annotations (notes) to illustrate the 3 "happy paths" for the client's site, one for each persona. Each path needs to have at least 5-10 wireframes. The wireframes illustrate each screen that the user will view in order to complete the desired task. Please add notes that indicate what controls will be available for each step and what will happen when the user selects a control. For example: Will additional options become available or will the user be taken to another page/screen? Remember to name and number your wireframes logically! Create a PPT presentation so you can present them to the class/your client.
Group Project:
- Meet with other group members/instructor to combine PPT slides for presentation
- Create/gather other resources for MDC clients (handouts, resource links, etc

Lecture: Use of Visual Elements with the User in Mind
Reading Assignment: Chapter 9 Questions
Key Graded Assignment #2: Designing a Website - continue building out the wireframes.
Project Assignment: Creating Style Guides Handout
Group Project: Present to MDC clients - POSTPONED - New Date TBD

Lecture: Writing for Usability
Reading Assignment: Chapter 10 Review Questions
Key Graded Assignment #2: Designing a Website
- Develop three mock-ups for the new site using Photoshop or Illustrator to create JPG images. Your mock-ups should show one key screen for each of the persona's tasks using the design best suited to each persona. The designs need to show how the finished site will look, including backgrounds, buttons, colors, fonts, graphics and all interface elements.
Guest Speakers: Judy Pepper - July 22, Marty Dickinson - July 24

Lecture:
- Areas of Usability Testing
- Testing Participants
Reading Assignment: Chapter 13 Review Questions
Key Graded Assignment #2: Designing a Website
- Present completed KGA #2 to class. Deliverables are: 3 sets of 5-10 wireframes (one for each persona's task) and three possible design solutions (showing one of the screens for each persona's task)
- Write a project summary paper (2 pages) discussing the project. What did you learn? Do you like the proposed site your designer developed? Why or why not? Do you like the proposed site you developed for your client? What will you do differently the next time you work with a client as a result of the KGA 1 & 2 projects?
Project Assignment: Testing Participant Handout

Westwood College site redesign samples - Industrial Wisdom

Class E-mail Addresses: