socialize:

process

Digital projects require planning and coordination. gomiki design information architecture has been instrumental in the concept, production and completion of projects by working with clients and stakeholders through planning, development and deployment.

below is an outline of the gomiki design process from pre-planning to documentation and testing. Although projects vary in type (e.g., standard and mobile websites, user interfaces, kiosks, etc.), the approach described here remains the same.

(1) discover

When starting a new project, we like to get a lay of the land. During the Discovery Phase, we gather information about your product, your business objectives, functionality requirements and target audience.

(2) plan

The Planning Phase synthesizes findings from Discovery to produce an IA Project Scope document that will include a schedule complete with milestones, deadlines and deliverables summary. The IA Project Scope (or Brief) may also include preliminary design concepts, uses-case scenarios, site maps, function diagrams, and web domain procurement information. This document is designed to work with your project timeline. Adjustments to the scope will be made as necessary to accommodate changes as they arise.

(3) design

Concepts and ideas begin to take shape during the Design Phase. Initial sketches are fleshed out; site maps and content structures go through various iterations before being finalized. System functions for new applications also come to life during this phase (e.g., prototypes). The design phase is iterative, and can involve quick implementation of concepts (agile programming).

(D) document

During the Documentation Phase, design schematics and annotated wireframes are compiled in a Functional Specifications Manual – a programming (and sometimes, manufacturing) requirements book that is distributed to programmers, developers, manufacturers and/or engineers.

(4) develop

The Development Phase, can occur concurrently with design or begin post documentation. Initial programming will produce working prototypes that can be launched, tested and refined. Alternatively, depending on project scope and developer's requirements, programmers can build final designs based on functional specifications produced during the document phase. The development phase may include:

Programming operating systems
Front-end and back-end programming (standard and mobile websites, web apps)
Manufacturing and assembly instructions (product development)
Content and asset integration (digital media and print production, copywriting)

(t) test

Testing is a thorough evaluation of project functions. This stage of the proccess can be part of development. During the Testing Phase, clients and stakeholders can evaluate the project on a staging server or a simulator (for apps). Errors, omissions and changes are implemented (and documented -- optional) before launch.

(5) launch

After passing QA, a pre-launch (deployment) plan is made. Depending on the nature of the project, this phase may require app submission to Apple and Google, website launch announcements, etc.

(e) evaluation & maintenance

During the Evaluation & Maintenance Phase, the project is closely monitored. Analytics are used to evaluate user acceptance and/or sales. Through the lifespan of the project, gomiki design works with clients on necessary product updates and changes.

project log

Recent projects completed by gomiki design:

mobile sites
desktop sites
iOS apps
usability evaluations

definitions

information architecture

A book will tell you it's the science and art of defining the organization, structure, labeling, navigation and interaction models of websites.

That definition is partly true. Today's Information Architecture has grown beyond functions performed mostly on websites. The same principles of structuring, organization and interaction are used when designing applications, games and hardware.

Information Architects focus user centered design and usability to create engaging, meaninful and, optimal user experiences.

Information architecs are masters of simplicity

We make websites and apps simple and easy to use. We advocate for users and ensure your customers get what they're looking for from your digital products.

Organization and usability squared

Information Architects take your digital projects to the next level by:

Defining how information is presented. Content is organized intuitively, around users' expectations in context of the tasks they are trying to complete
Applying our understanding of human nature and our research to make technology easy to use. User needs guide the decisions we make. Whether we are creating a site map or mocking-up a user interface, the objective is to allow users to complete tasks quickly.

we're everwhere

The IA's natural habitat is an office or design studio equipped with the newest, snazziest computers, laptops and tech gadgets. Information Architects work all over the world at companies ranging from advertising agencies to software engineering firms. Clients usually find me by referral or through this website.

user experience

Usability defines the ease of use, accessibility, ergonomics and convenience of objects. In the digital space, usability and design greatly affect how people interact with systems. At gomiki design, we design from a user-centric point of view, keeping an eye on usability. All of our projects are evaluated heuristically and the user's experience is tested before obtaining our seal of approval.