Web Concept Prototyping and Development
New, innovative web site functionality can take a long time to develop, and
can be long and expensive to change. We have extensive experience developing
sophisticated web interfaces, since Soundience analytic services such as
StaffingMatters and MarketPulse run over the web. We can apply this expertise
to helping you design, build, test, and iterate new web functionality rapidly,
and with low risk.
Our work in this area has ranged from quick concept development, helping clients work out and prototype an idea, to development of complete production systems, with hosting and support.
Rapid prototyping lets you deliver more effective web site functionality, more quickly and with less risk:
- Less time to get a functioning prototype you can test with users than can be achieved with a typical web design agency
- Easy to change, allowing for iteration of different designs and work flows, leading to a better solution
- A working prototype is much more effective than static screen images for getting a feel for how a site will work
- The prototype can incorporate design elements from your designer
- The prototype can be used for relatively low-traffic test periods; the site can transition to a more robust "production" version developed in parallel after the interface design has been developed with the prototypes
An example
The screens below are from an initial prototype of a golf tee time booking system, developed for a major sports magazine publisher. This first iteration (the foundation for further rapid refinement) took two days to develop, and already allows users to browse courses, select a course, book a time, and view the shopping cart:
Advantages of this approach
Rapid prototyping lets you deliver more effective web site functionality, more quickly and with less risk:
- Less time to get a functioning prototype you can test with users than can be achieved with a typical web design agency
- Easy to change, allowing for iteration of different designs and work flows, leading to a better solution
- A working prototype is much more effective than static screen images for getting a feel for how a site will work
- The prototype can incorporate design elements from your designer
- The prototype can be used for relatively low-traffic test periods; the site can transition to a more robust "production" version developed in parallel after the interface design has been developed with the prototypes
Other Case Examples
We have developed a number of web-based systems, most of which are in active use:
- An innovation platform, allowing users to submit ideas, identify key components of these ideas, and remix components to come up with new ideas
- A business link bookmarking service, which allows participants to post links to sites they like, tag these links, and vote on the ones they like
- An event management and booking system for a classical music ensemble
- An online survey and voting tool, used by a major consultancy to allow its members to easily set up and conduct on-line surveys over the web and from handheld devices
- A social networking application, which allows professionals at a major management consultancy to set up and join groups, and maintain their network of contacts during their career at the firm