How the design process fits into the agile methodology, WAS Pricing the Design Process

Jamie said:
With agile it's the opposite. It's very light on
deliverables, the
focus switching to building a usable product at the end of
each
iteration. It's very user-centred in its approach as you can
build
user testing cycles into each iteration to feed into
requirements for
the next.

Probably a subject for a separate thread (if there hasn't
already been
one) is how the design process fits into the agile
methodology - which
has some big challenges. I'd be interested to hear other
people's
experiences with this.
END

Hi Jamie, You still need a 'big picture' and the more
clearly this is defined, the better the direction.  Adopting
an agile, iterative approach means that you can always
develop or change it if you want. Another advantage is that
by creating a clear specification of a possible solution at
the start, one can anticpate issues before they arrive e.g.
to prevent painting yourself into a corner.  I acknowledge
that an iterative approach doesn't mean that you don't map
out, even roughly, future iterations, I suppose I'm really
suggesting that it needs to be combined with a good
plan/specification.

As for user testing, before you start on a project, your
business case should give you a pretty clear definition of
what is required from the project.  Even if one route is
different to another, the ultimate solution should still
satisfy the need - which should be testable.  I agree that
from a standard usability perspective its important to test
the solution effectiveness of any features or distinct
processes in your design, but you are never going to be able
to evaluate the whole user experience without all the bits
tied up, which takes us back to the starting question 'what
are you trying to achieve?' and then 'how will you know when
you've got there?'.  These questions need to be asked at the
beginning if not least to help the project stay focussed and
on track.  If you come up with some wonderful solution or
opportunity mid-project, you can then always adapt your
project accordingly.

Ivor Tillier

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How the design process fits into the agile methodology, WAS Pricing the Design Process

Thread: How the design process fits into the agile methodology, WAS Pricing the Design Process