Michael Almond
P 415.305.0540
malmond@almondesign.com
www.almondesign.com

Front End Design & User Experience Specialist

This document is a summary describing the primary skills and knowledge areas that are the responsibility of a Front-End Design & User Experience Specialist. There is obviously quite a bit of overlap, but these disciplines are all essential parts of an overall experience delivered to a Web site visitor; one that should be positive, satisfying, productive and enjoyable. This is essential to the success of any Web site or browser-based application.

01 Visual Design

A well-designed Web site delivers information clearly to a visitor while adding credibility and professionalism to the business or organization producing the site. The look and feel of a site communicates certain associations. It must attractive visitors while at the same time avoid interfering or distracting from the ease of use, functionality or purpose they have for being there. In the case of a Web application, this includes performing a series of tasks. This discipline area includes logo and identity development, graphic design, creating brand aesthetic and rich media, optimizing graphics and media, as well as establishing or following specific graphic standards and branding guidelines.

02 Interaction & Information Design

Navigation should be easy to follow, consistent, intuitive and use logical, straightforward terminology to describe each section of a site (no coded labels, for instance). Good user orientation strategies provide a map so visitors know where they are at all times, how to find what they are looking for, or what step they are in while performing a series of tasks, with minimal effort and no confusion. They should also be able to backtrack without having to rely on a browser's back button. This discipline area also includes recommendations or implementation of a site search feature. In addition to following navigation lines, this is one of the most widely used methods visitors employ to find what they are looking for.

03 Web Site Content

A Web site's content should be well organized, concise, well written, compelling and appropriate for the Web. In other words, information should be delivered and presented in a manner that reflects how people actually use a Web site or application. This discipline area includes information design and organization, specific recommendations for site features and content, understanding User Experience (UX) and User Centered Design principles, as well as copy writing and editing. Other responsibilities include documenting User Experience requirements and creating site assessments, use case scenarios and training manuals for clients so that they can easily update content and maintain a site or application after delivery. More complex sites may require working with back end developers to produce or recommend a Content Management System (CMS). Search Engine Optimization (SEO) and link popularity are included here as well.

04 Front End Construction & Integration

Web sites and applications should not only be easy to use, they must function properly. If they meet certain usability standards and guidelines, are carefully constructed, optimized, tested, and use valid code, they will be accessible to as wide an audience as possible and avoid excluding visitors. This discipline area includes technical knowledge and skills, such as the creation of XHTML/CSS templates that comply with Web Standards, cross browser and platform testing, usability review, performing general QA, as well as working with back end database developers and architects throughout the development process to integrate presentation and data layers.