Project Outline

There are four key components at the heart of any project management outline for developing, maintaining and designing a custom management system with killer UX experiences. While each particular module contains its own rewards and level of constrains. I though it might be a great idea to list each of them while showcasing my preferred method for building agile UX design experiences. Either for my own personal web projects or your next business solution. Currently I find myself  between working as a freelance front end designer and concierge. With high expectations of realizing front end development, UX content strategy solutions and consulting for B to C markets as the year rolls by. In brief, each component as its usually detail when discussing budgets and timetables with the client is as follows:

1. Content Strategy
2. CMS Development
3. UX Design Patterns
4. Hosting
5. Maintenance

Following the publication in a few weeks of our second essay looking at the tools, services and  DIY best practices on how to use WordPress. I recently completed the extensive outline preparation for part two of the series. And am happy to report a high level of fidelity within the article for anyone following along is right on target. As the goal of the DIY WP series is aimed at informing, educating and clearly exposing skills which may be of service for your organization or small business. As a form of passing useful ideas and tidbits to the general public at large.

Content Strategy

• Identifying client needs
• Implementing CMS strategy & fidelity
• Prototype mockups

Identifying your clients needs early in the process is a key element of focus when discussing their web development projects. And allowing yourself as the project manager ample brainstorming time to carefully review each module before moving forward.

As a general rule; make sure the client approves all prototype visual design mockups before moving forward with writing code. Having a general contract agreement regarding pricing and design expectation is vital. Especially if  your clients might want to “Abort Ship” half way in the process of developing a custom CMS which may take between four to eight weeks.  Depending on complexity and the client content or hosting needs.

CMS Development

• Database/MySQL/PHP back end development
• User roles
• Front End template design: HTML5/CSS/JS
• Server testing config

These are the technical specifications and backbone behind creating your own custom management systems for either licensing; maintaining an existing or outdated software for your organization or startup. I will engage in CMS  code production after the client has signed off on all prototype design mockups and a clear platform content strategy has been implemented between the project manager and each participating team member. As a side note, I will create several PSD’s in conjunction with  visual style tiles as design prototypes.

UX Design Pattern

• Concept story telling
• Patterns
• Feedback loop
• Branding

A custom managing system is a kind of software your clients will interact and manipulate on a daily basis via a web or mobile user interface. It is the job of the front end designer to implement a clear story for how the software will interact with the end user. And how it functions between the backend logic patterns for how icons, data components, responsive layout presentation and modules are presented to the end user for implementation.

With a simple and robust front end design pattern that can be accessed from a laptop or mobile device on the fly. If you are interested in seeing this functionality at first hand, stay tuned for part two of our DIY WordPress series. Where I show you a detail stack overflow view on how to work with the backend of a typical CMS. And if you stumble upon this article by performing a google search make sure to read part one of our WP DIY series as way of introducing you to the  article series.

The feedback loop along with branding are components which must be compiled from the client or team manager early on during the projects conception. In addition to generating a pre-launch usability testing group in an effort of obtaining real time data from your end users. Specially if branding and licensing are components of the CMS implementation. Branding will usually involve the creation of icons, png files or any other type of graphical user interface elements to go along with the UX are essential.

Hosting & Maintenance

• Domain configuration
• Web server configuration
• CMS maintenance
• Training

Establishing a hosting environment for your CMS is a vital component within the workflow and to-dos of a web designer. Configuring the right kinds of hosting solutions between dedicated, cloud or server rack infrastructure should be the last thing you or your client to do list. And making sure it’s added to your final budgeting spread sheet is vital. Lastly, but most certainly not least are maintaining and training before moving on to the next project. Allowing yourself a few weeks between yourself and a dedicated team member within your organization the task of updating and up keeping the CMS.

Next Steps

Hire Me | David S Concepcion

• Web Designer | Front End Development
• Consulting services

I am an experience designer with skills ranging between front end development and UX story telling.