Get rid of old assumptions and think out of the box!
The art of user experience design includes intuition, which method to use when and being passionate about what you do! Our science side applies the correct methodology and focuses on analytics and ergonomics.
A user builds up expectations about your brand & products through multiple touch points: your products, website, (mobile) applications, your shop, people talking about your products on blogs or social media, etc. Even the way your receptionist answers the phone is part of your image and influences user experience.
So User Experience is certainly not limited to websites or software.
ING asked us to join their team to build the mobile channel. High level information architecture and requirements were finalised. The challenge consisted of detailing the information architecture, come up with a design concept and design every page of the application in detail, including icons, style and navigation.
Initial scope was the user experience design for the new website, based on a first information architecture exercise. Keep a balance between the technical team on one hand and the business (and business analysts) on the other hand. But don’t lose the ‘potential candidate’ out of sight during this exercise.
For historical reasons, the website Klasse voor Leraren (www.klasse.be/leraren) has expanded and became more & more fragmented which does not quite fit the needs of the target audience. Marketing research indicated that the site is well known and used by directors & secretaries but the teacher is not reached properly. The scope of the assignment was to analyse the site functionally & to draw a new information architecture suited for the primary audience: the teacher.
Every project is unique. Therefore we determine which phases are relevant in close collaboration with the customer. Does one aspect need more attention? Is another one irrelevant in this case? During one or more discovery workshops we cast the scope and priorities for this project in concrete. The balance between user, context and business goals has our constant attention.
Based on the objectives and target group(s), we define tasks and scenarios for the project. Defining personas often proves to be a valuable approach.
“A persona is a user archetype you can use to help guide decisions about product features, navigation, interactions, and even visual design”
For each persona we write a number of user scenarios that will guide us during the further development of the project. Priorities are set by clearly defining main and subtasks.
We map out the existing content & touch points (website, flyers, documentation, etc.), which provides us a view on what can be reused and where new material is needed. If available, we take a close look at analytics such as e.g. Google Analytics for websites and apps. Good information architecture puts the correct information in the right place, using the appropriate vocabulary.
Once the information architecture is approved, we make wireframes for a selection of pages and scenarios. We work our way down from a homepage or start screen to a selection of templates. By using advanced tools we are capable of delivering these templates as screenshots, specification documents and/or clickable wireframes. Where possible, we test the interaction concept with these clickable wireframes in actual user tests or via expert reviews.
Based on the previous phases we then make one to three design proposals for the starting page and one or more detail pages. Animations are presented by means of storyboards. One or more iterations bring us to a final and approved design.
We talk BOTH languages
Our team of user experience designers typically goes the extra mile. They can bridge the gap between a professional user experience design and programming thanks to their know-how in html/CSS and the related W3C and anysurfer rules.
Even our ace user experience designers remain humble: the end user is the final judge of our work. In line with the project plan, we propose a user testing approach. This typically includes the following steps:
Passionate about UX, Hilde founded Monkeyshot in 2010. A natural leader and Information Architect daredevil!
"Make my day" gets a new meaning once you've met Aurélie. Gets the job done and brightens your day all in the same effort!
In love with details. No pixel will escape his eagle-eye. Skilled with HTML knowledge he can put his money where his mouth is.
Standing almost 2m, Wouter rises above every challenge he's faced with. Like a pitbull, he can bite and not let go to reach great results...
Seen our website sketches? Pieter is a master of both on- and offline skills and his unique personality will make every project exciting!
Some say, she even sleeps under a blanket made from post-its… A master in structure and fully equipped, Joke organizes content like no one before.
Missed several careers as: stand-up comedian, actor, singer or impersonator. Axure lover and prototyping addict!
How to make a Nico? Mix a passion for design with a sense of humor and combine it with an academic background… Sounds tasty right?
Thorough and on top of his stuff, specialises in Mobile UX. Don't let the glasses fool you, this man is on a mission!
