Face it, a poor interaction between users and your web product can delete any chance of success. The experience you create has to be satisfying at every level – ease, speed, performance and outcome. At Mile7, our user interface design focuses on the user from start to finish.

We begin by determining whether the user interface (UI) will go through a primary or evolutionary design process. Primary user interface design applies to products that can be developed from the ground up. Evolutionary user interface design applies to products that undergo incremental changes, migrating to a common design language.

The Mile7 User Interface Design Process

Our user interface development process involves three essential steps: gathering and collating all user requirements, iterative design process, and final production.

Step One: User Requirements Research

We start by analyzing the end user of the system and the environment in which the system will be used. We utilize data collected by our clients, as well as information we gather through research and compilation.

Key data includes:

• User Profiles. Cataloging salient needs and abilities, including a look at depth of training and knowledge, linguistic or accessibility needs and other factors.
• User Stories. Descriptions of actual or proposed engagement with the system.
• Workflow Analysis. Examining the tasks associated with the daily use of the product.
• Environment Assessments. Examining the variables that make up the use environment: sight angles and distances, luminance conditions, cultural issues, and accessibility requirements.
• Requirements Documentation. Regulatory requirements, product requirement specifications, and technical/platform requirements.

With this information in mind, we conduct a marketing analysis. Where possible, we look at competitive products to uncover critical features or other advantages that we might exploit. And we look for ways to expose and leverage the client's brand.

Step Two: Iterative Design

Knowing all user requirements, the team identifies a set of screens that represent a necessary range of product functionality. These screens become the basis for initial user interface wireframes and paper prototypes.

For best results, early ideas are tested with users and refined as the designs become deeper and more sophisticated. This often involves participation from product marketing, usability engineering, documentation, and quality assurance. Deliverables here include a set of approved screen mock-ups. Based on the nature of the product and the development schedule, deliverables may include a working prototype as well.

Step Three: Production and Quality Assurance

As production ensues, all required use cases are considered. An icon library is established for use in the product. If the product requires presentation layer coding, such as HTML, .net, java or other code, then the code is developed and tested before hand-off to the client-side engineering team. Often, code drops happen in sync with the product development team so they have what they need when they need it.

Along the way, the development and QA teams review the product as it is being built to ensure the user interface design is being implemented according to specifications and guidelines. Consistency and continuity is assured.