Design Resource Center proposal (1999) - A little dated in the particulars, but addresses fundamental issues

1. Dow Jones Markets Design Resource Center Proposal
Design Resource Center Proposal
John Vaughan
Assumptions
Consistency, standardization and overall quality in both documentation and user interface design
of Technical Development Group software products need improvement. Existing resources for
implementing these features should be centralized, systematized and expanded.
Terminology
For purposes of this document the term “user interface design” broadly includes:
 the internal documentation of software products which are used by developers, designers,
managers, client partners and other project staff during the product development process
 the external documentation of software which are used by customers, end users and support
staff to maintain the software product once it is released
 the inherent documentation which is embedded within the software product itself: the
functional implementation of features in software products, the “look and feel” of the GUI,
the Online Help, application “wizards”
 design services such as requirements gathering, modeling and usability testing
 media production services such as graphics, video, animation, audio, multimedia, web
enablement
 extended product support such as training, customer support, marketing presentations
Recommendations
Establish Design Resource Center (DRC) to provide a centralized resource for user interface
design services. The DRC has a management line, a budget for staff and equipment and a
mandate from department management to provide a broad range of interface design support
services to all projects the Advanced Applications Group (Group). Generally, we group these
services under:
• Design Resource Center Library
• Design Services
• The Media Studio
• Product Support
The DRC operates across multiple projects within the Group. Every Group project has a DRC
“user interface champion” assigned to it. The champion works closely with the Project Manager
in supervising and implementing the delivery of DRC services. The role of the DRC champion
is to act as an advocate for the user perspective throughout the design process and to deliver
DRC services to the project.
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2. Dow Jones Markets Design Resource Center Proposal
Design Resource Center Roles
Project Support
 Participate in project development process from inception, working closely with Project
Manager
 Responsible for the development & maintenance of all documentation
 Responsible for media production
 Responsible for user interface design
Standardization
 Identify and develop consistent, global user interface modules which can be shared by
multiple Group projects
 Define & enforce user interface standards for all Group software
 Systematize documentation creation processes for all Group Projects
 Oversee and sign off on all graphical elements developed for Group software user
interface and documentation
Management
 Consult with Group management to establish: scope of DRC needs, an appropriate
budget and allocation of resources to Group projects
 Establish the parameters for working relationship with Project Managers
 Manage Design Resource production & support facilities and staff
 Work with Group management and Project Managers to delineate criteria for future
documentation and interface design of Group software products
Design Resource Center Services
Design Resource Center Library
The DRC establishes and manages central online design reference information & resources for
all managers and developers of Group, as well as a focused reference database for individual
projects. This online support system is delivered on Lotus Notes platform. The DRC Library
system provides the “bottom line” of service provided to all Group projects:
 Offers common, easy-to-use and manage design resource reference system for Group
projects
 Authorizes appropriate access (read, edit, create/delete) for Group members
 Acts as central clearing house for documentation and interface design standards
The DRC Library provides information support to the Group on 2 levels:
General Reference Database
Organizes reference materials which are available to all developers and all Group projects.
Development Directory of Group developers, resource people & managers
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3. Dow Jones Markets Design Resource Center Proposal
Project Documentation Library of documents which have been released for general
reference; includes print-based design documents
Documentation Template Kit organizational structure and presentational stylesheet for
any documents which are produced by Group
User Interface Design StyleSheet user interface guidelines and design conventions
Technical Glossary terminology & acronyms; cross-referenced
Code Module Library reusable code modules and appropriate documentation are
identified and coded
Media Library reusable graphics, logos, icons, animations, video, photo images
Project Reference Database
Create unique workspace area under Lotus Notes which contains basic reference information for
each individual Group project. This provides a convenient central repository for shared
information about the project. The Project Resource Database is developed in close cooperation
with the Project Manager. Only immediate project members and managers have access to this
database.
Project Contact List of immediate project members and other relevant people
Project Timeline and Milestones maintained by Project Manager.
Project Documentation Library contains Functional Requirements, Design
Specifications, User Manuals, Glossary, Support Materials (graphics, flow charts, tables)
Design Services
The DRC also offers a range of interface development design services, some of which are
optional and may be contracted on an “as needed” basis by individual Group projects.
Requirements Gathering based on use case, task-based analysis, to be included in all Group
documentation (mandatory)
GUI Design for all Group projects is provided by DRC; enforced conformance
to DRC standards (mandatory)
Software Modeling is used both to identify project requirements and to develop the
user interface (optional)
Usability Testing should be reiterative throughout the project life and should include
assessment by human factors professionals (optional)
Upgrade Legacy Software and existing documentation to DRC design standards as best
possible (optional)
The Media Studio
The DRC establishes and maintains a facility with the tools and skills to provide a full range of
media production services to all Group projects (includes video & web enablement).
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4. Dow Jones Markets Design Resource Center Proposal
Media Library (in the DRC Library) for developer use: icons, illustrative
graphics, flow charts & diagrams, photographic images, company
logos, 3-D imagery, charts & graphs and Web materials
Presentation Standards DRC “signs off” on any media to be released as a part of a Group
project imagery, charts & graphs and Web materials
Web Enablement DRC provides resource center for graphics and implementation of
web GUI’s
Product Support
Documentation and user interface design are naturally extensible to these supporting roles:
Embedded Help Design documentation with an eye towards implementing it as
online help which is embedded within the finished product. In
certain instances a targeted task (such as installation) may be
developed as a “wizard”, which has certain properties of a training
module.
Customer Support Ongoing customer support will be most efficiently delivered by an
online database of documentation, tutorials and FAQ’s, which are
available either for reference by the Product Support technician or
for direct access by the customer (via intranet or CD-ROM)..
Training Documentation materials also provide the basis for development of
Computer Based Training software oriented towards end users,
applications managers and Dow Jones support personnel (s.a.
Marketing, Installation). These training materials may be
integrated with Online Help as “how to” tutorials or they may be
developed as full-blown interactive training courses.
Marketing Materials High-end documentation, media and
training materials developed by DRC will be of use to
Marketing.
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