Project Lifecycles and Interface Design

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Project Lifecycles and Interface Design

• J Ivins

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Overview

• There are many different lifecycle models
• Each has it advantages and disadvantages
• Last year you met the WATERFALL model (see page
  49 of Peuple for diagram)
  
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of this
  model for multimedia designers?

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Media Engineering Lifecycle

• Conceptualisation
• Top level reqs
• Analysis
• How user interacts
• Top level design of structure
• Prototypes
• Design
• Refine Top level design
• Construction
• compilation
• graphic design
• testing
• Maintenance
• correct errors / update
• update etc

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• Conceptualisation
• Define scope, requirements, delivery method, size
  and complexity of task, project planning
  
• w (tp)/ page rate l/link rate
• where t number of text pages, lnumber of links,
  pnumber of pictures
  
• Analysis
• Use cases, storyboarding, prototyping, top-level
  logical physical design
  

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• Design
• complete document logical and physical design,
  page design
  
• Construction
• develop source material, code and test
• Maintenance
• Amend, add, improve, update
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of this
  model for multimedia designers?
  

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A conclusion so far?

• Both models appear to be fairly rigid
• Requirements freeze
• Difficult to change design later on
• Users not explicitly included in design process
• Testing and evaluation occur fairly late on
• Both are simple to understand
• You know where you are in the models
• You know what has to be done when and where
• Easy to manage, especially with large teams
• NB The media engineering Lifecycle model is more
  flexible but can we improve on it?
  

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Interface and lifecycles?

• Firstly, where does a multimedia project come
  from?
  
• Planned?
• Accidental?
• Necessity?
• It just happens?
• Economic drivers?
• Political drivers?
• Social drivers?

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Interface and lifecycles?

• Peuple et al argue that there are 4 ways to
  design interfaces
  
• We will look at two extremes
• Questions for you to consider
• How does the design approach affect lifecycle
  models? and
  
• How does the lifecycle model affect the design
  approach?

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The Peasant Tradition

• Traditionally, products made by individuals or
  small groups
  
• One-offs
• Tied to locally available materials
• Work and life closely integrated
• Bricolage
• Thinking with your hands to achieve goals
• This is a craft approach c/f Palm

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Industrial Production

• Traditionally
• Control from the top
• Work separate from life
• Dress codes frequently used
• Planned production over long duration
• Bricolage discouraged
• Ethos of the visionary driving the process
• Can you identify a company who works like this?

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Pros and Cons

• Industrial
• proven results
• standardised level of quality
• creativity is stifled
• distrust is an implicit factor
• Peasant
• Unique products, variable quality
• prevents featureless artefacts

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Further Reading

• F Brooks The mythical man-month 1975
• D Norman The psychology of everyday things
  1988
  
• F McCarthy William Morris - a life for our
  time
  
• B Hughes Dust or Magic 2000
• Jenny Le Peuple et al User Interface Design 2003
  Recommended