Going Agile For Great Results
When it comes to creating custom software, few approaches succeed like the Agile methods. Agile project management is an iterative approach: build a small piece, confirm it works, and then build another. When your project is a journey into new territory, it's best to take it one step at a time! It's a great way to ensure that you get what you really need, rather than what you think you need at one point in time.
Envision's EDLC has learned the lessons that the Agile methods have to teach. For anything that is heavily customized (and therefore at least a little unknown), we segue into an Agile sub-project.
If your project is a custom web application, the entire project may be managed using Agile approaches. This allows you to leverage Envision's experience, while opening yourself up to new possibilities.
User Experience (UX) Based Usability Design
User Experience is the moment-to-moment and cumulative perceptions and reactions someone feels when interacting with a product.
UX-based usability design requires the knack of putting yourself in the shoes of your customer. Learning to see the world through their eyes allows you to understand their needs. You just can't give them what they're looking for without it. What the user sees and when they see it need to be carefully crafted, and balanced with the fundamentals of good visual design.
Information Architecture
Your site or application needs to look clean, modern and uncluttered, but still informative to your users. It needs to be easy to navigate, and not have information buried too deeply to find. How is this achieved?
Translating your organization's information into an effective online experience for your users requires outstanding Information Architecture skills. Envision has over 11 years in guiding clients on how to organize web sites and web applications so that users find what they need intuitively.
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Content Strategy Coaching
Content strategy is the art of connecting your site users with meaningful online information. This field involves getting your users to helpful information, and how that information is presented. It requires that you get into the heads of your users and give them what they need - so you can get what you need.
If your team is writing the content that the world will see on your web site, you will need some guidance. Envision Online, as part of its EDLC web development process, will include:
- Analysis of who your site users are and what they're looking for
- Review of your competitors' strategies (optionally available)
- Full explanation of what works and what doesn't work on Google
- An SEO keyword list to work into your copy
- Guidance on how to format your text for maximum comprehension and retention
Collaboration Gets It Done Right
Envision understands that building collaboration into a project as much as possible will ensure great results. Collaboration is the foundation of the Envision studio layout: developers, designers and project managers all work in an open-concept environment to ensure effective communication.
When you work with Envision, you become part of the team. Envision project managers enjoy sharing their knowledge and love of the web, so any questions you have are a welcome chance to talk shop! Keeping you informed and listening to you throughout the development process ensures total success for your project.
How We Communicate
Envision Online has many years of experience with a variety of distance communication tools - including screen sharing and Skype. We've had plenty of time to adapt our processes so that communicating with clients outside of Ottawa is as smooth as if they were down the street. Envision Online regularly works with clients in other countries and other time zones - even on the other side of the world!
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