Web Design Experience - From Microsoft.com Design Supervisor
Author: Microsoft · Peter Source: microsoft.com Joined: 2003-11-20 [Reserved] E-dimensional (9iv.com)
From the title, you may think that I mainly care about the layout design of thousands of webpages in Microsoft.com Web Site. Indeed, this is indeed my concern. Visual attractions are important, but this is just a small part of work. The final purpose is to ensure that the entire site is working properly. I mean, people usually do not appreciate it as art works when visiting Microsoft.com. Instead, in order to obtain information about the product, or some technical issues need to consult, or read the journal related to the developer. So the design of the site should be as clear as possible so that they can easily find the required information. Design sites are in the WEB design - in the design process - the form should be obedient. This method is applied to the entire design process of our site. Of course, we have the latest web tools and can upload a variety of visual gadgets onto the web page. But we believe that this will not be conducive to providing valid services for visitors. In fact, I often find that some sites have not placed the key. Common errors include: user interface elements are inconsistent. For example, the same control is different on different pages, or the same function corresponds to several user interface controls. The navigation bar position is inconsistent. Decide which pages and features of the site need to be accessed on any page of the site. This is the "global navigation bar" that should be consistent. I don't pay attention or don't pay attention to basic graphic design principles, such as typographic, color and layout. An arbitrary group of related elements and functions. Note the location and purpose of placing the element on the web page. This helps visitors to infer a link from other adjacent selection and location. Make the web page to make visitors need for a long time of download through a typical modem speed. This is not to say that you should not use graphics, but you need to make special selection, then optimize them with the appropriate compression and color index. There are still many problems with the current Web site, which is not surprising. After all, the Web design "art" is relatively talking about a new thing. At four, five years ago, the web page is even ordinary. At that time, people seem to think that their Web site will attract visitors just because they exist - and, in some cases this method is really valid. But these sites are generally ugly, and more importantly, they are really difficult to use. Next, enter "see what we can do", add a large number of animations, sound files, and other additional addresses in the web page, resulting in a long time to download, but did not get how much content. Today's Web designers have learned the experience and lessons of predecessors. A good site tends to simplify and quickly, and it has improved. This is Microsoft's goals, and we first admit the mistakes you have made (see "Microsoft's Web Briefing" to see the previous home design). Design errors are not always obvious. Sometimes there will be little or no impact on the movement or change of a small element in design. However, in other cases, it may really have an impact on the page functionality. And if we learned something from the past few years, small changes will make the WEB page's operational way is very different. Clear processes To avoid similar problems, we have designed a clear process for new services (such as "Search") or critical web pages (such as homepage). Each project is started on a certain basis, that is, we have a product or service that benefits the page, part or user interface elements on our site. In the early product plan phase (Parm 1), I was asked to design some primary models: a sketch of the page, some or function. The product project team then checks the product plan suggestion to see if this service can really bring some benefits to Microsoft.com visitor.
If the answer is "Yes", then this item will be approved, we start writing a project manual (2nd phase). We created and proposed a more complete plan on the sketch and concept on the first stage. At this time, we generally start the availability test (generally written models) to learn about how potential users will respond to the design. In the final development phase (sections 3), we created a web prototype of running a planned service and conduct a comprehensive availability test and internal review. Then complete the code of the site, modify the program error, and finally release it to the customer through the actual Web site. As you can see, availability plays an important role throughout the process (see "Creating a valid web interface requires carefully"). We can run a task for users so that we can compare the same test in the later version. We can use this method to measure to determine whether a function is redesigned to bring any true value for our customers. Also, we will carefully observe if the availability object can calculate how to properly use new features - we are called "discovery" methods. Sometimes this provides us with some challenges. For example: On our site, type a word or word in the search engine to generate a column. Then we ask the user to choose to search in these results to make a fine search and guide a page or resource. But even "Search in the result range" is significantly marked on a dark tag, few people are familiar with it. Some users think they are starting new search and may have no results. We are solving this problem to ensure that customers can use all rich features on Microsoft.com to improve their understanding of this site. Option "Search in the result range" looks intuitive, but it is not very easy to discover. This issue has always been one of the problems that plague our design. In the final stage, the site design is an art of equilibrium between the needs of conflicts. On the one hand, I have to design the site as simple as possible. On the other hand, I want to ensure that all powerful tools in the site can be used for experienced users. At the same time, I have to serve the internal customer service - Microsoft Product Project Group - they have special needs for services. So I have to solve some very difficult problems every day, often in a very pressing situation. I found this kind of work is an inspiring and interesting. This career requires more skilled professionals. I have passed a series of very uncommon processes - studying graphics art at university, then designing CD-ROM in multimedia companies, and finally adding Microsoft and develops applications - only to get this position. Very strange is that when I applied (and obtained), I have never designed the web page. But my extensive design experience has proven to be very useful, and I think that I have verified the motto "successful design is a successful design" (no matter what media). Many design issues are unique to the web, and the method of solving these problems is the same for any media. For those expectations of Web designers, they should also expand the design background as much as possible. Today, we should ensure that some web work is part of interactive design training - most good design schools have joined them. However, solid technology in terms of typography, color theory, layout design, and production will still be particularly valuable. In the future, Web designers will continue to be demanded to add richer multimedia content to the page, thus adding new levels of complexity and technical requirements for Web sites. As a CD-ROM / multimedia designer, I have to have a graphical design, video, audio production, animation, and other knowledge and creative capabilities. My prediction is that web designers will also develop in these areas. For us belonging to Microsoft.com - and other places on the Internet - that should be a very interesting future.
