5 Tasks for designers at the start of a new project

At the playground in High Park

Activities for designers

These tasks are part of the initial design planning stage of your communications project:

Task 1 Information Analysis Tasks
1. AUDIENCE

• Primary audiences
  
• Secondary audiences 

1. Profile & Background
   
   
2. Requirements for using/accessing information
   
   
3. Knowledge of content
   
   
4. Experience with technology
   

2. INFORMATION

1. Information each audience needs
   
   
2. Current status of information
   
   
3. Ownership of information
   
   
4. Updates/revisions needed
   

3. TECHNOLOGY

1. Audience technical needs
   
   
2. Software requirements
   
   
3. Hardware requirements
   
   
4. Corporate needs
   
   
5. Resource intensity of media

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Task 2 - Navigation Design Process
1. Navigation Questions:

1. What information does the audience need to know
   
2. What questions will the audience have that I can answer in this presentation/web site/document
   
3. How can I answer the audience's questions
   

2. Create a diagram of the navigation design
3. Test and review The Design
4. Drill - Identify the type and number of pages

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Task 3 - Initial Visual Design
1. Create initial sketches for placement and appearance of key features
2. Review sketches and refine based on feedback

• Is the page layout pattern clear
  
  
• Can the user anticipate where the content, orientation or navigation tools will be
  
  
• Are web pages/presentation pages consistent
  
  
• Do the pages support the information access needs of your users
  
  
• Do the web pages apply the Research based principles. 

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Task 4 - Initial Content Design
1. Determine style and tone
2. Organize content into Maps
3. Refine the hierarchy
4. Present content on pages
5. Review and refine.

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Task 5 - Prototype Review
1. Conduct project team review
2. Update Style Guide
3. Prepare for prototype development.

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