The Redesign Process
The NCSU Libraries Web redesign team is using a user-centered, iterative design process for the 2010 redesign. What this means is that we focus our energies on the end-user throughout all phases of the project, constantly seeking feedback and iteratively updating our site per the feedback we receive.
In the user-centered design process, four phases make up the bulk of the work: discovery, architecture and design, development and implementation. Our goal in the discovery phase is to better understand our users and their motivations for coming to our Web site. In this phase, we'll identify exemplary sites; perform a content analysis of what exists on the current site; develop personas or archetypes of users using the Web site; specify user tasks and goals; and look at usage statistics for the current site.
In architecture and design, we take what we've learned about our users and begin to architect and layout the site specifics. We’ll develop navigation models and create low-fidelity prototypes. We'll use wireframes to communicate what the site structure will look like. From the wireframes, we'll create designs.
The architecture and design phase is very iterative in nature. Once we develop a wireframe or a design, we’ll elicit feedback both internally and externally. We'll use the feedback to refine our wireframe or design and ask for comments again. This process is repeated until we have a final deliverable.
During the development phase of the project, we'll actually build the Web site, including migrating content into the Drupal CMS platform. We expect that this process will be iterative as well, as we're planning to perform usability tests on the site once it is built. Feedback from usability tests and open sessions with external and internal users will inform the final stages of the project and help us solidify the design of our new Web site.
Once the site is launched, we plan to continue using user-centered, iterative methodologies to update the site. We'll conduct usage surveys, and studies about its ongoing use.
We look forward to your feedback about the process we're using. Feel free to drop us a line.
