User Experience Design

Understanding how users accomplish tasks in their normal day is critical whether designing new software from the ground up, designing an implementation for an existing system, or updating sites or applications already in use.

Often user interface and user experience design is approached forensically by deconstructing forms and documents, and management descriptions of how things “should” work. Listening to actual users provides an understanding of how they think, their motivations, and philosophies are critical to understanding how your users approach a task or problem in their daily life.

Tasks and Deliverables:

1. End-User Interviews
2. Information Architecture
3. Wireframes
4. Task-based Audience Segmentation
5. Persona Development
6. Mental Model Diagrams
7. Interaction Design
8. Product Gap Analysis
9. Design Strategy

Product Management & Prototyping

I have been an integral team member in developing and delivering four enterprise software applications (Web-based), numerous corporate Web sites, and consumer-oriented software products. Providing other corporate support such as sales engineering, and marketing support has rounded my experience.

Developing software prototypes provides an invaluable tool used internally and externally to: validate requirements have been successfully met through usability testing; provide proofs-of-concept internally or externally; provide a conceptual framework for implementing new features; serve as a training tool; and to serve as an example product for the sales or seeking venture capital.

To date, I have developed prototypes and sales demos that have resulted in: venture capital funding, successful enterprise software sales; a vehicle for usability testing; and a platform for training users.

With today’s tools, prototypes can be developed quickly and at a fraction of the cost of building a full application, allowing you to focus your money and functional requirements on a user experience that has been vetted by end-users and your market.

Tasks and Deliverables:

1. Product Roadmap (Release planning and prioritization)
2. User Stories
3. Use Cases
4. Information Architecture
5. Data Modeling
6. Workflow Diagramming
7. Functional Specifications (Developer Recipes)
8. Clickable, Functioning Prototypes
9. Usability Testing Scenarios (Other stuff)
10. Sales Demo Scripts
11. Training Program Design
12. Training Material Creation

I have developed Web-based software applications in start-up, Fortune 500, non-profit and creative design environments since 1997. Understanding Web-based software development from each contributor’s point of view is essential to managing successful projects. My experience has exposed me to all facets of software design, development,  and deployment from initial requirements gathering to end-user training and support.

Regardless of the deliverable, I believe it is critical to understand the thought processes and motivations of end-users in order to understand how any system is will be used and how it is designed. I am also an honest and thorough project manager that maintains project momentum by involving project stakeholders and communicating all the project peaks and valleys.