fusionware design

HELLO. I'm Erica Ware, a freelance user experience (ux) designer with a history working with both freelance teams, small design firms and corporate ad agencies. I have nearly 5 years experience designing online experiences including websites and advertisements, for great companies such as AID Atlanta, The Weather Channel, Verizon Wireless and other local and national brands.

I've gathered a rock star line-up of designers and developers and together we create online experiences.

how we do what we do....

We thought it might be nice for you to discover how we like to work up-front. We've spent a lot of time researching methods that work best for both our clients and us.

1. Kick-Off
2. Research-->Discovery-->Strategy
3. Information Design
4. User Experience Design
5. Technical Development
6. Refinement and Testing
7. HandOver and Launch

Kick-Off

The client (You) contacts us by, filling out our standard project sheet or the old fashioned way "the phone". We look/talk it over and set-up a physical meeting or conference call.

During the kick-off we discuss your needs and expectations as well as our expectation of you. We'll take lots of notes and get back to you in a few business days. When we do, we'll provide you with and estimate, proposal and contract. No legal mumbo jumbo that you need a PHd to dissect, plain english that is legally binding

And then we're rolling...

Research-->Discovery-->Strategy aka (RDS)

During this phase we really dig in deep. Who are your users/competitors? How do your business goals translate into a website?

Information Design

This is where we craft user persona's and the various ways in which your site will be used. We create a hierarchical representation of the content on your website in order for you to understand and provide feedback on the information hierarchy without being ‘distracted’ by the branding aspect of the site design (ie: type, colors, photos). In addition we scope out the lay of the land in the form of a Sitemap.

User Experience Design

At this phase, all of our research and focus, on the users and your business goals start to come alive. We'll present a Creative Brief based off of your goals and everything we've talked about thus far including measurements of success and the over-arching design strategy.

We'll provide you with one rock solid design comp of the home page and interior page. You'll receive this along with some notes and explanations. If possible we'd prefer to meet or schedule a conference call/chat to go over the design with you; we know you'll have questions. We'll explain why decisions x and y were made for your target users.

Technical Development

Once the design has been signed off, we'll start developing the static XHTML and CSS code. We'll test and also give you a test run. Afterwards we'll add the dynamic layer to the website including and database work or content management systems. We'll use various SEO techniques to get your content out there.

Refinement and Testing

Of course we made errors. We are not machines, only human. That's what this phase is for. Let's break the website. Or at least try to Valid code? Check! Supported browser compatibility? Check! Graceful degradation? Check!

HandOver and Launch

Whew! We've come to the end of the road my friend, or is it? We'll provide you with copies of your website to keep safe and secure. We'll transfer your site from our development servers to your live website. Run a few tests and then give you the keys and let you run wild. Of course we wouldn't let you behind the wheel without any training. We'll teach you how to manage your new "Glory" and as always are available for questions. If this doesn't fit into your busy lifestyle, we can manage it for you. -- Contact Us.

Partial source: A Good Process