Information Design – Week 9

Topics: Prototype Testing
Lab / In-class activity: Paper Prototype Testing, Keywords, Personas
Work due this week: Site Wireframes, Reading: Chapter 9
Homework for next week: 3 Comps for Site Homepage, Reading: Chapter 8

DUE WEEK 10:
3 Design Comps for Site Homepage: (10pts)
Create 3 different rough designs for your company’s site.
Each design should have a different style, imagery, and color scheme.

- Include a Logo for your company that reflects the company’s mission (the Logo can be the same on all 3 comps).

- Your design should communicate the “range of offerings” that your company provides – make it obvious what type of products are being sold.

- Navigation items should be visually distinct from other elements of the site

- Category labels should be simple and obvious, and suggestive of what items are in the category.

Grading: 10 points total:
__ (2) Required details are present, all text is legible.
__ (2) Layout: Design follows a consistent grid, spacing, and alignment.
__ (2) Emphasis & Imagery are relevant to the theme of the client.
__ (2) Color Scheme & Typography are relevant to the theme of the client.
__ (2) Variety: Each comp has a different look.

Reading Questions for Chapter 8: (4pts – Due Week 10)

1 ) Explain the different scenarios in which you would want to use a Wizard, Control Panel, or Toolbar.

2 ) Why is interface design considered to be “disputed territory”? How does the author suggest dealing with such territory issues?

3 ) What is the user’s “locus of attention”?

4 ) What techniques can designers use to create a “visual code” for grouping related items together?

5 ) What design techniques can you use to keep a user focused on their task? (For example, keeping them from abandoning a shopping cart transaction)

6 ) What methods can be used to make links visible and apparent?

7 ) What suggestions does the author give for defining Global Navigation?

8 ) What type of links belong in a secondary “bottom navigation”?

9 ) What is the difference between “Pogo-sticking” and “Crab-walking”? What behaviors do they require of the user, and what design techniques are commonly used to support them?

10 ) Explain the situations in which it is appropriate to use the following: Radio buttons, Check Boxes, Drop-down menus, Selection List.

GRADING: READING QUESTIONS (4 points total)
__ (1) Use complete sentences.
__ (1) Answers demonstrate knowledge of the assigned reading.
__ (1) Answers are in your own words, not copied from the book.
__ (1) All questions are answered.