Vitec
Role
UX Design & Fullstack Developer
Year
2017
Skills & Tools
JavaScript, .NET, HTML, LESS, C#, MySQL, Adobe Xd
Objective
This project was run during the course 'Design-Build-Test', interdisciplinary project in engineering. The goal was to run a project with a customer, developing a product from idea to functional prototype.
We chose to work together with the company Vitec Software, business area Estate Agents. The client requested development and research of a concept for their clients. Because of confidentiality, no images of the final design can be displayed.
Requirements
We were given free hands in designing and developing the application. The few limitations we had was that the product had to be capable of communicating with Vitec API and be built responsive and platform independent.
Process
Research
After agreeing on a collaboration with our client, we initiated in a rigorous research. In the first stage we had to get to know our client and the stakeholders of the project. Thus, we conducted interviews to gain knowledge about demands and pain points.
Ideation
After the research had provided us with a clear objective, we set out to figure out the foundations of the application. We engaged in several creative sessions with brainstorming, sketching and discussions. Our ideas were then consolidated and converted into a graphical profile, mood board and key words to build the application on.
Prototyping
From the created template, we began the designing of our prototype. The design was then presented to the client. We got valuable feedback and had to rethink some aspects of our prototype.
User testing
When a satisfactory and functional design was achieved, we began testing persons from the target audience. The results showed we were on the right track, although we needed a few clarifications and adjustments.
Implementation
Preparations for implementation had started already in the prototyping phase since we had to make sure that our proposed solution was compatible with the client's API. The work was initially split up into back-end development and front-end development. However, as the development progressed, these started to tangent and were eventually merged. In the end, requirements and additions to functionality led to a very complex implementation communicating with several API's.
Delivery
After four months, we were able to deliver a satisfactory functional prototype. Although some obvious flaws existed, the project had brought great insight into possibilities and obstacles. Along with documentation we also included a comprehensive evaluation of how future technologies could be used with the application.
Sequel
After the project, I was employed to continue the development over the summer and beginning of autumn. From the foundations we had laid in our project I made refinements and developed the application ready for deployment.