Introduction

The timeline diagram below, and following checklist, document the primary processes of making a multimedia project (or web site).

Research & analysis

Identify aims and objectives

What you are trying to achieve? What is the purpose of your project?

Research examples

Examine similar existing projects to ensure you are not duplicating something that’s already out there and to "steal" all the best ideas.

Determine end-user profile

Who will be using the project? (age, nationality etc), what computer will they have and where will they be (alone, classroom? etc). Define minimum end user system requirements such as screen size, soundcard and internet access. Article on end-user profiling.

Determine delivery methodology

How will the project be accessed? CDROM, web site, installation on a server/intranet, etc

Audit available resources

Identify all the skills, knowledge and equipment you have available to you. Article on budgets, skills/equipment audits and quotations.

Determine the functional requirements

Considerations include ...

Frequency of use. Style of presentation may be dictated by usage patterns. For example, a project intended to be viewed once may employ an intensity of communication, repetition, and contain insistent dramatic content elements, such as sound effects, that will become tiresome in a project to be used again and again.
Keeping attention. How will you keep your end-user interested and focused?
Customisation You may need to consider tailoring the presentation towards a user’s needs based on information input by the user.
Recording usage ... Will you or your user benefit from a record of their time using the project?

Register a domain name

If you are building a web site, you will almost certainly want to research available domain names, decide upon one, and register it. Use the hosting company you are going to use to do this. Choosing a hosting company located in your time zone of operation may make technical support easier.

Whatever domain you choose, it is worth registering a .com version, even if you do not intent to use it in your marketing materials, simply because it is the most memorable domain and your end-users may try it if they forget your actual domain (eg .org).

Design

Specify information/knowledge/message

Ensure you have specified all of the information and content to be delivered by your project.

Create the navigation map

This is a plan of all the screens and the navigational links between them. Article on nav maps.

Create storyboards

Determine the layout of your screens, colour schemes, fonts, styling and presentational look.

Considerations include ...

Consistency and coherence ... Navigational and stylistic patterns will be expected by a user who understands the context they are in, i.e. turning the pages of an electronic book. The design of the interface must be informed by considerations of clarity. Each design and style component must have a clear role within the context. There must be consistency in the design of navigation and menu elements and in the layout of the screens, balance in the organisation of components within individual screens, and a clear pattern of flow between screens.

Styling ... Although coherence is a primary consideration it is also important to consider how stylistic factors will impact on the delivery of your message. These factors inform the choice of type
style, colour scheme and presentational approach.

Graphical metaphors ... It is common for multimedia designers to
employ real-world metaphors in the form of icons, illustrations and diagrams.

Article on storyboards.

Construction

Write scripts

For all menu and screens, interviews (questions?) and audio and video clips

Obtain AV media content

Do you need a pre-existing piece of video or audio? What are the copyright considerations.

Create AV media content

Animations, images, video, and audio etc

Author prototype

Build the project structure by creating a structure of linked screens containing media / content with your navigational structure and functional features. Create all the programmed or scripted elements.

Testing & evaluation

Alpha testing

Should be carried out constantly through the authoring process within the development group.

Beta testing

This involves real world end-users using the prototype on a variety of systems and then completing questionnaires. The problems encountered will inform a further process of refinement.

Debugging

To be completed by interface designers.

Delivery

Create packaging

CD / DVD inlay? Booklet. Box?

Create installation documentation

READ ME file? Inlay, booklet?

Article on creating READ_ME files.

Article on artworks for print.

Create user’s guide

Printed or electronic (PDF)

Master a CD / DVD

Create a master ready for manufacture / duplication or containing files suitable for installation to a kiosk or intranet.

Article on creating x-platform discs.

Upload / install site

Web sites need either uploading to a web server or installing on an intranet server or kiosk.

Multimedia project development processes by Matt Ottewill