Information Architecture
With more than ten years of experience creating interactive projects, we’ve had plenty of time to perfect our development process. We’ve determined a project is only as strong as the planning that goes in to it. That’s why we’ve designed our “Success Starts with Strategy” development process to make sure your project reaches its maximum potential through effective information architecture.
Information architecture (IA) is the science of organizing Web sites and other interactive media to maximize results. With a focus on optimizing the project’s usability, our staff goes beyond basic content organization by creating an intuitive navigational structure and highly effective user interface design that is tailored to your target audience.
The cornerstone of this process is the master blueprint document we author. While the sales proposal and statement of work (SOW) talk about what you’re project will do, the blueprint details exactly what will go on behind the scenes to make that happen. The blueprint is developed through collaboration between your staff and our development team and serves as a reference throughout development. Several elements make up this document, including:
Sitemap
The sitemap is exactly what it sounds like; a map outlining all the pages of your Web site. It lists each page and shows how they will link to one another. The sitemap ensures the most important information and calls to action are linked throughout the prominent areas of your Web site.
Design Preferences
Design preferences give us a starting point for the style of the project. We review your current website (if applicable), as well as any of your competitor sites, to determine a consistent theme for the project.
Wireframes
Wireframes are like a rough draft of the Web site including portions of the site’s functionality. Wireframes are similar to a sitemap, but actually allow you to click through and interact with the pages. This provides a better feel for the flow and functionality of the final product before development begins.
Process Flows
Many sites require integration with third-party components. This may include anything from credit card processors to CRM systems. We use the process flow document to outline how our code will interact with these components.
Milestones
Milestones allow us to group project functionality in to logical stages for smooth rollout down the road. This allows us to test each stage independent of ongoing work. With larger scale projects we can even launch full feature milestones to a production server.
Component Checklist (QAR)
As functionality is established during the planning and development stage, the component checklist serves as a reference to the base functionality that is required for each element to work. When the project goes to our Quality Assurance Review (QAR) phase, this document will be used to make certain all required functionality is in place.
Database Structure
Our Technical Architect will design and deploy the project’s database structure during the planning phases based on the functionality established in the Statement of Work. This allows us to maintain a consistent database design across all of our projects based on industry standards. Creating this standard facilitates consistent future development by anyone on our programming team.
Hosting / Third-Party Configurations
We establish a hosting configuration tailored to the project specifications before development begins. That way if functionality or goals evolve during the development process we have a record. That helps us ensure that our development environment matches the production environment before launch of the project, reducing the risk of costly setbacks.
At the conclusion of the development process, not only will you have a great product, but you will also have this comprehensive blueprint document to use as a basis for future product expansion. We believe in doing things right the first time, and we know that proper planning is the only way to ensure that will happen. We appreciate the opportunity to prove to you that Success Starts with Strategy!