The Project Definition phase can also be called the "discovery" phase. This is where we seek
to learn as much as we can about your company, your short and long term business and Web site
goals (not always the same), your brand identity and your thoughts on the project. Three deliverables
usually come out of this process:
Requirements Document
We seek to understand your requirements and beliefs about the project,
but also to understand your objectives and be smart advisors of how best to
execute against those objectives. The Requirements document is a detailed
outline of exactly what the site must do (i.e. the instruction set)
from both a business and technical perspective (by contrast, the Functional
Specification document details how the site will achieve what is laid
out in the Requirements document).
Competitive Landscape
The Competitive Landscape is a document that includes an overview
of competitive sites on the Web. Each site contains a URL, a screenshot of
the home page, a one paragraph overview of the site, a target audience list, brand
positioning, brand attributes and features, partnerships, strengths, weaknesses,
and threats. The Competitive Landscape informs the User Experience
Strategy.
User Experience Strategy
The User Experience Strategy is a short 5-10 page document which outlines a high-level
architectural and navigational approach for developing the Web site. This document includes
the recommended approach, high-level assumptions from target audience, target audience
goals, user types with accompanying example scenarios, archcitecture implications and
preliminary wireframe(s). The User Experience Strategy forms the basis of the
Functional Specification document.
