This idea of this portal is that it is designed around the users needs, and what information they want, therefore gaining maximum visitors. I will be conducting in depth usability tests, and using these results to aid me when designing the portal. The plan for the end of the project is to have a design proposal with a series of prototypes that could easily be passed onto a development team to make the portal a fully functioning system.
One of the main reasons I have chosen this approach to the project is that I want to improve my usability skills, as well as catering for the users needs. Although I am not a strong programmer, and taking a programming route for the project may have been beneficial, I feel that improving my usability skills would be more enjoyable and still relevant to my future career. One thing that I do not want to be is a developer who is good with technical skills, but not good at catering for user requirements.
I am currently compiling a 'Project Proposal' document, outlining exactly what I am going to achieve by completing the project, how I am going to go about completing the project and a detailed plan for the process. By next week this document will have been finished and submitted, then I can continue conducting initial research and start planning (and begin) the user involvement within the project.
