Millions are spent each year trying to build winning solutions, but many fail to deliver, making do with second best. The difference often comes down to the balance and skills of the initial team and how the solution was planned and designed. Too much emphasis on technology and the user often suffers. Too focused on the user achieving their goals and the business fundamentals (time, budgets, resources) can be squeezed. Whatever the project the initial stages are critical.
- Design team management
- Requirement management
- End customer definition
- Information Architecture
- Functional modelling and design
- Interaction and visual design
- Technical solution architecture
- Prototyping and user testing
- Specification and work packages
We prove the solution will work before you build it ? reducing risk and saving money.
Our digital architects are focused on these initial stages. We are passionate about helping customers put the right teams and activities in place to ensure the winning solution is not just a concept talked about at the very beginning, but becomes a reality at the very end.
We provide the following...
Design Team Management
DEFINITIONCareful thought needs to be given to the team responsible for designing and planning the the new solution. The team should be set up with representatives from all the key areas to bring balance to the design, minimise the risks and manage stakeholder expectations not just at the early design phase but all the way between requirements and final acceptance. |
EXPERTISEWe are skilled in helping customers establish and manage successful solution design teams. The ideal design team would include:
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Requirements Management
DEFINITIONRequirements management is crucial to any design process as it defines the scope of the project, helps set and continually manage expectations and provides valuable reference when testing any resulting build work. The activities undertaken during the crucial requirements gathering phase will depend on many factors factors, such as the methodology that will be used (traditional waterfall process v. agile processes), availability of key personnel, time, budgets etc. In all cases though, the objective is to discover, record and analyse relevant information quickly. The architects need the ability to listen, think on their feet, ask relevant questions and continually balance the list of requirements against factors such as time and budgets.. |
EXPERTISEOur digital architects are skilled in all standard approaches for eliciting and documenting requirements, including:
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End customer definition
DEFINITIONKnowing your customers motivations and behaviours has been the main driving force behind businesses for decades, allowing companies to adapt sales processes and promotions to increase profits. The phenomenal growth of the internet has resulted in a greater need to understand your customers (internal or external) and what goals they are trying to achieve. The web is a ruthless place where customers are intolerant of bad design leading to increased frustration levels that can have a drastic affect on a site or tools acceptance. Spending time at the early stages of the design phase focusing on the end customer requirements is essential in all projects. For the best results, Ucensis advocate continual communication and involvement with end customers throughout the lifecycle of a project. |
EXPERTISEOur architects are experienced in:
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UI Design Modelling
DEFINITIONOnce the team understand the scope and the strategy they can begin to think about the structure and skeleton of the site or application, i.e. how information and functionality is organised and how the customers navigate around it. We believe passionately that both stakeholders and customers need to click through possible solutions designs at a very early stage in the process. This helps elicit further requirements whilst also thoroughly testing initial thoughts regarding interaction and functional design.. It is not uncommon for our architects to create mini ?strawman' wireframe solutions as a means of playing requirements back. Wireframe prototypes are quick to create but affective in helping client stakeholders to visualise the final solution. |
EXPERTISEOur architects are experienced in:
There are so many interesting elements to discuss about each of the above that we have decided to use a blog as a means of communicating them. This service will be coming soon. |
Technical Solution Architecture
DEFINITIONIt is critical that the technical teams are involved throughout the design process as a winning solution needs to be delivered on time and to budget. Ucensis technical architects will work with the build team and client to ensure the solutions technical architecture is robust, scalable and has considered all factors to ensure it delivers future requirements. Close communication will enable expectations to be set and ensure the project timelines are realistic. |
EXPERTISEOur architects have vast experience in:
To find out more, please contact us |
Prototyping and User Testing
DEFINITIONPrototyping is an essential part of the design process for developing web based applications but should also be considered for any site where finding information of performing tasks (i.e. transactions) is core activity. Ucensis strongly recommend developing rapid prototypes based on the customer journeys and scenarios agreed during the customer definition activities. These prototypes can then be used for extensive user testing to ensure users can achieve goals within the current design. It avoids expensive mistakes later in the project and allows for feedback loops that will enable the design to move forward iteratively. |
EXPERTISEWe have extensive expertise in:
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Creative Visual Design
DEFINITIONOnce the design are at a stage where everyone agrees that they will meet objectives, the visual design team begin work. This team will create visual concepts based on learnings discovered and captured during the design process. |
EXPERTISEWe have extensive expertise designing for the following application types across all sectors:
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Prototyping and User Testing
DEFINITIONOnce the design is finalised it needs to be handed over to the build team. This process involves a number of hand-over meetings and the writing up of detailed specifications that describe every aspect of the design. Ucensis can also provide services where we manage the build process on a clients behalf.. |
EXPERTISEWe have extensive expertise in writing:
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Each architect has over 10 years experience working for a variety of companies on different projects including:
E-commerce and transactional sites
Content Management Solutions
Business Process and Expert Systems
Strategy and Digital Marketing
Web 2.0 Sites
"Ucensis are a fantastic company to work with - reliable and professional who work to the highest standard.
When I need system design of the highest calibre I will always look to bring Ucensis into the mix. We have worked together on a number of projects including the Geeksquad website and an Intel extranet.
I have never ceased to be amazed by the quality of the solution design that comes from Ucensis.."
Nick Abelson | Senior Digital Producer
and Project Manager
When it comes to digital architecture there is so much to talk about and take into consideration. Two projects are very rarely the same. We want to share our experiences and insight with you through our blog.
In our spare time we will update this so please come back to get the latest updates.