User Interface Design We work with design teams to understand their unique technologies and issues to create a user interface design. We typically work together with software engineers and graphic artists to create a design that is both usable, appealing, and can be implemented. Once the customer's domain and tasks are analyzed, the user interface design can begin. As the design emerges, a vision prototype can be used with customers to evaluate the validity of the concept embodied in the design. As the design takes further shape, directed dialog techniques can be used to further validate and refine the design. In parallel with the design work, a user interface specification is created. The specification outlines the major systems, metaphors, and mechanisms used in the design. Along with the specification, the major design concepts can be prototyped in a tool like VisualBasicTM. The prototype allows the design team to review or walkthrough the design in an interactive manner. The prototype can also be tested with customers. The design rationale gathered throughout the design process is also maintained in the user interface specification. Without the rationale for the design decisions, the next developer might make changes to the design due to a lack of understanding of the customer needs and issues that the design addressed. To Design Technologies' Home Design Technologies Portland, OR Copyright © 2009 by Design Technologies