User Experience Workflow

User Experience

Perform activities in this order during your first iteration to define requirements, information architecture and visual design. Refine the approach with prototypes and usability testing.

You choose the degree of formality your project needs.

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(Notation from the Rational Unified Process®)

Understand Context of Use

• Use proven HCI techniques to learn about users
• Understand users' tasks and working environments
• Begin defining actors to support use case modeling

Establish System Scope

• Define scope of site or system to be built using a use case model as the primary tool
• Establish priorities for elaborating detailed requirements, information architecture, content, visual design, and software architecture

Plan and Manage Content

• Explore content needs and sources
• Develop editorial guidelines
• Plan content management approach (with Software Architect if using a content management system)
• Develop content inventory to organize content

Develop Creative Approach

• Develop creative concept — options for the visual design and key user experiences based on business concept, brand, user research, application features, etc.
• Set graphic design direction for project and document it to whatever extent necessary

Define Requirements

• Define functional requirements with use cases
• Define non-functional requirements
• Restructure use case model to improve clarity and reduce maintenance tasks
• Iterate to rapidly improve results

Develop Information Architecture

• Develop conceptual and then detailed site map to define the site's structure
• Define and model page structures with wireframes
• Develop interaction design

Manage Changing Requirements

• Define dependencies and traceability among requirements and other user experience elements
• Assess and respond to change requests and other approved changes
• Review updated artifacts and decisions

Prototype and Evaluate User Interface

• Develop user interface prototypes using appropriate forms (e.g., paper, page designs that merge information architecture and graphic design, clickable prototypes)
• Plan and conduct usability tests
• Solve usability problems