The Communication Studio LLC

The Architect's Role

As online interactive services become a way of life, it is the Interactive Architect who structures the knowledge and puts the finishing touches on the face of the product. As an Information Architect and Interaction Designer, I often work concurrently across several different levels: UxP Task List

Conceptual

  • Capture Business Requirements in a document.
  • Communicate the requirements and style guide to business unit, project management and coding team members by creating The Demo Site.
  • Direct the focus of the site appropriately towards the client's actual business requirements.

Structural

  • Organize content through Information Architecture.
  • Map the form and function of the sections, pages and features of the site in Design Specifications, so that we have a coherent overview of the service.
  • Optimize the HTML of the pages (speedier display, easier management).
  • Reduce the byte count (minimize page size / wait time).

Behavioral

Reconcile inconsistencies

Eliminate redundancy

Remove workflow dead-ends.

Reduce unnecessary clicks

Interface

  • Simpler, cleaner code, organized in templates, modeled in wireframes Wireframes.
  • Headering "tags" embedded in Style Guide (CSS & Templates) handle dynamic content.
  • Embed Stylesheet Themes and design attributes in CSS cascading stylesheets, which allow style management and rapid updatability.
  • Clarify confusing terminology.
  • Reconcile unclear or missing on-screen directions.
  • Improve poor layout.
  • Correct distracting/inappropriate use of color.

Customer Service

  • Create a "customer-centric" site that is influenced by Personalization Profiles and Personas
  • Define User Assistance parameters
  • Embed customer support features (effective online help, step-by-step wizards, MouseOver popups, sitemap, etc.)
  • Recommend features that would make the service competitive.
  • Craft appropriate enterprise-wide operational guidelines.

Process

  • Institute Project Team Roles and a development process that is seamlessly integrated with programming development.
  • Create a shared, manageable code and graphics library in the Design Resource Center.