BA Team: Product Ownership, Analysis, and Solution Design

BA Bi-Weekly Mini-meeting

July 14, 2011

09-2011

Using UI Designer ResourcesHow to make the most of UI Designers

*Content provided by the UI Team

UI Services and Methodology: Across a Project

For the purposes of this training, it is assumed that the Define and Design steps include 4 sprints. It is more important to focus on the tasks that would be accomplished during the Define and Design steps than focus on the specific sprint number…

EIM has a small team of UI Designers/Graphic Artists, who currently are under-utilized across the company. The goal of this training is to clarify how these team members can add significant support and value to each project.

UI Services and MethodologyAs we have defined the roles/responsibilities of the Business Transformation Consultant group in a Top-Down approach to the Define/Design steps within ISDM, it is important to clarify how a UI designer may be used in these steps to augment a BA in cases where we have the benefit of having such a resource assigned to the project. (a goal for all projects.)

UI Services and Methodology: Define & DesignFrom the beginning of an Established project (Define and Design steps), there are ways that a UI Designer (visual architect) can support a project. During the first SME workshops, a UI Designer can be involved, and can begin formulating ideas about UIs at the same time the BA is getting a clear idea of the highest-level requirements. Iterative sessions can review requirements, SDD and UI Mocks (think SCRUM or Team approach rather than relay-race approach to defining and designing).

UI Services and Methodology: Define & DesignOnce initial workshops are done (and an initial/partial SDD is complete, and rough mocks created), UI design will begin to mature along with the requirements decomposition process. The UI Designer can attend SME sessions along with the BA. Often, a SME session begins with the UI Designer walking through a solution from the perspective of the UI Mocks, or even better, the SDD is walked through – pointing to each designed UI as it is addressed in the SDD.

UI Services and Methodology: Define & DesignThis is consistent with previous requirements-gathering sessions we have had, where we described using the SDD to guide conversations, and help identify where detailed requirements need to be decomposed.

As a BA walks through the SDD to gradually gain acceptance from the customer that we have the key elements down pat, the UI designer can present the UIs that make the process come to life for the clients…

UI Services and Methodology: Define & DesignAs the Project passes through the Define Gate, and moves into the Design Step, the UI Designer can actually begin having iterative sessions where they are able to click through a prototype UI. Again, this approach, in addition to talking through the SDD, allows the BA to approach the requirements and SDD (and Mocks) together. (Remember, there is not an order of Requirements First, SDD Second, Mocks Third…)

As Design progresses, tools such as Day in the Life or Maqetta can be used to visualize the solution being defined by the BA…

UI Services and Methodology: Define & DesignAs the Design Sessions result in designs that are considered “Done Enough” by the Client and EIM, the UI Designers will wrap up their involvement in these steps by actually generating UIs in Maqetta (current plan), identify Widgets that will be used in the UI, and write the CSS to meet prototype specs. (Some of this may also spill over into the Build Steps, depending upon when in the Define/Design Steps there is an agreed upon “Done Enough”.)

So the UI Designer is not only generating designs, but working towards designs that are 100% feasible from a development standpoint.

UI Services and Methodology: BuildOnce the UI Designers have handed off their UI Mocks to the development team, they will continue to be engaged with the development team to support any UI changes, CSS tweaks, etc. The team is then utilized to ensure that any documentation or training that is generated also adheres to a professional look and feel in terms of any graphic arts and layout.

Key points to remember…

Summary

• There is a tremendous amount of value in incorporating our UI

Design Team from the beginning of a project.

• UI Designers work alongside the BA (in more of a SCRUM

“altogether now” approach, rather than a relay-race approach)

• The UI Team is not only integral in Defining and Designing, but also

in Build as they are working towards providing artifacts (CSS) to

development that will work right into their code base.

• As members of a project team, the UI Designers can also provide

value in making sure any documentation and training materials

receive a professional branding/look and feel focus.

UI Services and Methodology