iue2009 - lessons learned while integrating a new ia tool
DESCRIPTION
Presented by Josh Morse, Tonya McCarley, and Chris Farnum on April 2nd, 2009 at the IUE2009 Conference in Ann Arbor.ABSTRACTFinding the right tool for the job of constructing wireframes and specifications has been a longtime challenge for User Experience professionals. The longtime standby combination of Visio, Word, and Excel has prompted many to ask "is there a better way?" In recent years, a new generation of tools has emerged that promises improved productivity and integration for IAs. But there are costs to making changes to the established methodologies in our organizations. At Enlighten, the Information Architecture (IA) team recently transitioned from a work flow based on Microsoft Word and Visio to one based on Axure RP. In this presentation we will discuss the issues we considered while making the switch, three examples of projects that Axure made a difference for, and finally some of the issues we encountered and the challenges still facing us.TRANSCRIPT
Lessons Learned While Integrating a New IA ToolAdopting a New Way of Creating Wireframes, Prototypes and Functional Specifications
Introductions
Chris Farnum, Senior Information Architect Tonya McCarley, Information Architect Josh Morse, Information Architect
We work on projects that are• Many shapes and sizes• For external clients• Interdisciplinary and collaborative• Full of rich interactions• Creative and, well… interesting…
Overview of Presentation
Choosing a Tool Introduction to Axure Project Examples
• Interactive wireframes for a large packaged goods manufacturer
• Prototyping and usability testing for a large banking site• Specifications for a social security assistance site
Summary & Looking Forward
Choosing a Tool (Something Wasn’t Quite Right)
Information Architects produce several key deliverables: Site Blueprints Flow diagrams Wireframes Prototypes Functional Specifications
Issues: Used several different tools during the process Resulted in an inconsistent process for producing deliverables Maintaining and revising was tedious
So we decided to look for new tools
One Tool to Rule Them All…
Our goal was to find a tool that would: Make it easier to create our own prototypes Help us create more consistent deliverables Let us create functional specifications more seamlessly Improve our efficiency and project process
Some popular IA tools
Visio MS Word
Pencil
A new generation of tools for Information Architects
What did we try?
We were using… Visio + Word, sometimes Excel
We tried…• Swipr and Intuitect as Visio add-ons to automate wireframing
• Adobe Fireworks and Swipr for prototyping
• None of the above addressed functional specifications
Challenges and Concerns
Enlighten had a long history of Visio use, and an abrupt shift for the whole team would not be easy:• IA team members were already engaged on projects
using Visio• Existing Visio stencils and templates• Most team members had become efficient with Visio• Word templates for specifications were already
adopted across departments
An Intersection of Axure Information
Prior to selection:• Engineering management conducted a functional assessment of
IA tools, including Axure.• One IA team member (Tonya) participated in a working group
focused on documentation and Axure at IA Summit 2008.• Another IA team member (Josh) explored Axure in a graduate
school class.
During the selection process we consulted others in the organization:• Engineering and QA• User Experience• Management
Why did we choose Axure?
Axure is designed to produce wireframes, prototypes, AND specifications
It offered several advantages for our workflow
It was affordable It has a growing user
community for exchanging info, stencils and tools
Cost
Functionality
Axure
iRise
Swipr
Taking the lead on Axure
For efficiency, one IA team member (Josh) took the lead in the adoption process• Reviewing training documentation and practiced
using Axure• Creating new stencils to replace those in Visio• Writing internal documentation on using Axure• Joining the active online Axure community• Using Axure on several small projects
The IA team met regularly to discuss goals and standards for Axure use
Axure Capabilities
Wireframe Tools• Similar to Visio, but with more
annotating capabilities Specification Generator
• Automatically generated from wireframes and annotations
Interactive HTML Prototypes• Functionality is added to wireframes
Wireframes – Opportunities and Challenges
Opportunities• Interactive wireframes were more intuitive for
planning a Flash user experience• Dynamic Panels in Axure make it easy for a
non-techie IA to illustrate interactions• Easy to output to both HTML and Word.
Challenges• Need to decide how much interactivity is
needed• Limited drawing tools compared to other
tools• Might need separate versions of the
wireframes for documentation
Axure Example: CPG Product Micro site
Hair care and styling division of an international consumer packaged goods company
Microsite and media campaign for a new line of products
Focus on consumer education Information Architect’s goals
• Provide wireframes and “just enough” requirements for the internal project team
• Wireframes should Communicate interactivity Document team decisions
CPG Product Microsite: What We Did
Flash site included an interactive salon, animated product demos, videos, music playlists via Rhapsody
IA• Created wireframes with interactive
elements and working navigation• Revised with internal feedback• Handed off the wireframes as a
guide to design, creative and engineering
Later adapted wireframes for an expandable banner ad
Sample wireframe in a Word doc
CPG Product Microsite: Lessons Learned
Wireframes were VERY well received by the internal team
IA had positive influence on interaction design
Even with the learning curve, wireframes were done quickly and shared easily
Issues:• Need to decide how much interactivity
is needed to communicate an idea• Limited drawing tools compared to
other solutions• Might need separate versions of the
wireframes for functional spec documentation
Prototyping – Opportunities and Challenges
Opportunities• Validate the effectiveness of the
new tool for Usability testing needs• IA creates the interactive prototype
rather than Engineering• Increase collaboration opportunities
between IA and design
Challenges• Working in parallel to meet
engineering needs and manage the usability testing process
• Learning a new tool in the middle of an established project
Axure Example: Central Bancompany (CBC)
Large Midwest financial holding company
• 16 separate properties Incorporation and execution of a new
content management system (CMS) Unified look and nomenclature across
all sites
Usability Testing assignment:• Test Missouri bank users• Create an interactive prototype
Evaluate response to new look and structure
Validate appropriateness of nomenclature
CBC: What we did
We recruited and tested 11 small business owners in Missouri
• The testing location was a Marketing Research firm in St. Louis
Camtasia software captured and recorded each test
Axure was used to create the interactive prototype
• High-level prototype• Created with design comps imported
to Axure• Required no coding
CBC Lessons Learned
Axure made it possible to create a polished, interactive prototype quickly• Users did not “know” they were
not looking at HTML pages Adopting a new application mid-project
is challenging• Using Visio and Axure to satisfy
separate deliverable needs
Specification Generation – Opportunities and Challenges
Opportunities• Quick and easy generation• Multiple people can share Axure project files
Challenges• Document is very table driven – not a lot of
freedom for additional notes.• Specification must be re-generated when
changes are made in Axure Tracking changes is difficult
• Items are only ordered at a page level Items cannot be easily grouped by
column or panel
Axure Example: SSDC Services
Small site with mainly static content. A few HTML forms. A dynamic questionnaire with somewhat
complicated branching logic. Site used a Content Management System (CMS)
We produced• Wireframes for the CMS page templates• A prototype of the questionnaire• A document with both CMS and functional
specifications
SSDC Services Specifications: What we did
The functional specifications for SSDC were done through Axure, and included
• Technical specifications for the CMS• Analytics specifications
Challenge: Only IAs have Axure licenses• Updates funneled through the IA• Used the Word template to store non-
page-specific information
Challenge: Widgets are listed horizontally• Multi-column pages cause trouble for QA
members• IA renumbered footnotes on select pages
SSDC Lessons Learned
Develop alternative formatting standards that take advantage of Axure
• Find a balance of effort between IAs and other teams using specifications.
Work closely with the people that will be using your specifications to ensure that they are easy to read and use.
Axure can easily become the central repository for documentation on a project, which can make more work for the IA if only he has a license.
Lessons Learned From the Adoption Process
During the adoption process, maintain regular communication with representatives from internal teams, not just the IA team.• Make sure to discuss details as well as high-level issues.
Evaluate your process along with the new technology• Technology changes may require process changes that affect
many people. People will be uncomfortable; try to keep them informed and bring
them into the adoption process.
Summary and Looking Forward
We are still in an integration process• We are still learning and building out our stencil/widget library• Continue the functional specification discussion• Axure has not been tested on a large CMS-driven project
Reliance on Visio/Word documentation Multiple Authors across departments
• Wider adoption of Axure is under consideration Engineering, Analytics, and QA
And we are continuing to evaluate potential solutions
Thank you for your time!
Any questions?
Contact UsChris Farnum [email protected] McCarley [email protected] Morse [email protected]
EnlightenInteractive Marketing | Web Development | Strategic Consulting
Ann Arbor, Michigan | www.enlighten.com