Running head: Selecting an Organization

Selecting an Organization
Student name
Allied American University

Author Note This paper was prepared for ISY 425: Independent Web Design Project, Module 2: Selecting an Organization taught by Dr Augusto Casas.

Directions: Read the prompts below and compose a response to each that is at least one paragraph in length consisting of five to seven sentences. Your responses should provide examples from the module’s reading assignments and follow APA guidelines for formatting and citations.

1. What steps would you take to get to know your web design client? (Ch.3 pg.50-53)
I would ask various questions about their business and personal hobbies. Getting to know the client makes better rapport and relationships. It is also important to know what kind of technology that they deal with. This solidifies whether I can take on the client knowing how they work. If their business model or the way they handle things is too haphazard I prefer not to work with them. Then again beggars can’t be choosers.
2. What is scenario building? (Ch.3 pg.53-55)
Basically creating scenarios is illustrating why people should or would use your web site. Scenarios are context-rich stories that focus more on what people will do than on how. A scenario tells us something about the customers and their characteristics, the tasks they want to accomplish, and the context of their use of the site. Making up personas and storyboards are also helpful in this area. Rich scenarios help you try out design ideas before even building the site.
3. How do observations and interviews help you to know your customer? (Ch.3.pg57)
Techniques for observing and interviewing customers can be quick and informal. They can consist of either having a discussion over coffee or lunch. Having customers show you what they do now in their homes or even their work place can add to the portfolio of who they are. Most people are willing to help especially if you tell them that’s the information is being used as research to improve the website for them. One thing that couldn’t hurt is actually paying for the coffee or lunch.
4. What are the principles for knowing your customer? (Ch.3. pg40-42)
As a designer, one of the most important things to know is that they are not the customer. Even though this idea sounds like it is quite obvious it really is not at times. The designers get caught up in a product or design and want to throw some elements in the mix that the customer never wanted. They turn it into their own product verses what the customer wants. In order to understand the customers the designer needs to understand the elements and balance the forces of everything. Designers have to examine their customers, their tasks, the technology and their social context. All customers are people and not to be taken lightly. Every customer is different and they are also the same. There is a fine line that makes them the same yet the same line that makes them different. It takes an experienced designer to get that fine balance to understand them.
5. What is card sorting? (Ch.3 pg60-62)
Card sorting is another easy technique for determining the best site organization. Card sorting helps the designer to understand how to group items so that people will be able to find what they’re looking for by recognizing the groups. It has a similar concept like organizing a deck of playing cards. You could separate them by suit, number or color. The way is it organized depends on how the customer would like to get organized. It could be very simple or it could be very complex.
6. How are surveys used in getting to know your customer? (Ch.3 pg.63-65)
Surveys are a traditional method of getting to know the target audience. Surveys are a great way to get feedback for multiple reasons. If the designer thinks the site needs changing but doesn’t know what to change he/she can add a survey on the existing website so that the