Overview

This module is the index to a series of pages describing each phase of managing a major Web site development project. You will be using these pages to help you with details of constructing a site for a class project.

Project Phases

1. Determine which electronic communication technologies to use
2. Web Site Objectives and Project Scope - a high level description of the site you will create for your client.
3. Audience Definition - a high level description of your audience
4. Production Timeline/Schedule - a schedule of your delivery dates of the components.
5. Success Criteria - How will you measure the success of the site?
6. User Needs and Task Analysis - This is a more detailed look at what your users will accomplish by going to your site.
7. Content Inventory - A list or table with information about each content piece
8. Quality Assurance Plan - An overview of the steps to be taken to assure that the site meets specifications, conforms to standard grammar and spelling rules, and has all links working correctly.
9. Information Architecture - A plan for organizing the content inventory into pages, and linking the pages so that users can perform their tasks easily and effectively.
10. Page Layouts (a.k.a. Grid) - For all levels and page types, provide a diagram of the layout, prepared in Fireworks, Illustrator, Visio or an equivalent tool.
11. Branding, Design, Look, and Feel - What should be messaged in your site? What kind of mood do you want to convey? What should the visual tone of the site communicate?
12. Usability Test Plan - a series of user activities designed to see whether the page layouts and information architecture make it possible to accomplish the projected user tasks easily and effectively.
13. Site Mockup (a.k.a. Wireframe) - Build a plain vanilla HTML site with links (no art, just content placeholders and references to images that may appear
14. Usability Testing -Testing the site design with "real" users - people who haven't been part of the design team and who are as close as possible to the audience profile.
15. Technical Specifications - User machine and connection specifications, and possibly server configuration as well.
16. Web Hosting Report - Research into available Internet Service Providers that have Web servers meeting the needs of the client
17. Maintenance Plan - Who will maintain the site? How will updates be made?
18. Usability Test Findings and Site Revision - Results and recommendations from usability studies
19. Add Graphics, Colors, Fonts, and Text Content
20. Quality Test Findings and Site Revision - Report from the quality assurance testers.
21. Project Completion