Interviews, Logos & Wireframes

After conducting the Competitor Analysis, I drew a few wireframe designs for the proposed rugby portal. The aim is to show these to the users within the interview, in order to gain initial feedback. As the design of the rugby portal will be user-centred, I hope to include user input for the next batch of lo-fi prototypes which I can present within the poster presentation at the end of term.

This week I had my first progress session with my project tutor, and gained valuable information of semi-structured interviews and what to ask users. I improved on my first attempt on the questions to ask the users in the interviews and am awaiting feedback so that I can begin the interviews with the chosen interviewees.

As well as continueing with expert based initial layout designs, I start to hand draw some logos for the rugby portal, and transferred these into digital versions that could also be shown to the users. I aim to settle with a logo that is effective in displaying the title of the portal, that is also visually appealing but not distracting from the content within the portal.

Over the next few weeks I am to move into the 'Modelling' stage of the project. Taking information from the interviews to assess any trends and patterns that have arised. Also, I aim to start modelling personas on the users of the website, and to create some charts (eg. pie chart) to display the information obtained within the interviews, all of which can be used within the poster that needs to be submitted at the end of this month.

Competitor Analysis, User Interviews/Observations & Initial Designs

After compiling a plan for the Competitor Analysis, and assessing available frameworks and examples online, I decided to use this week to extend the analysis. This is my first change to my project schedule, which should not affect any other tasks that need to be completed. I underestimated the importance and depth that the analysis needs to go into, and feel that it would be beneficial for the outcome of my prototype if I extend the analysis.

I also started to plan questions and observation techniques for the user interviews, in order to obtain initial feedback on ideas. These initial ideas are hand-drawn lo-fi layout designs for the portal, as well as logo designs which I hope to gain feedback on. I hope to have assembled a team of users to use for the interviewing stage by the end of this week, so that feedback and necessary changes can begin.

Project Beginning Stages

Since the last post, I have completed the Project Proposal document and submitted it for marking. The document outlined my goals, objectives and learning outcomes for the project, and how I am going to achieve this. The document also provided an in-depth calendar outlining what tasks I will be completing within any given period.

Over the next week I have scheduled a Competitor Analysis, addressing competitor websites that prospective users of the rugby portal may be attracted to.

I will also be considering which users to start interviewing for the project, these will most probably be university players, coaches and fans, who the website will be aimed at. As well as this, I will be doing prior planning in order to decide on appropriate interviewing techniques to use when interviewing the users.

Lastly, I need to contact BUCS (British Universities & College Sport) over the next week to ensure that using data and information off their website is allowed, as if this is denied I will have to sort an alternative method of importing data for the portal.