Aka DES261
Before we go into design, this part needs to be understood. Luckily, there are a plethora of resources we can use. For instance,
http://www.printmag.com/featured/phases-of-the-web-design-process/
Well, relatively fun. Use what you've just learned about the first steps of developing a project to answer a few questions regarding your idea. That is, fill out the answers to the subcategories within Project Definition mentioned in http://www.printmag.com/featured/phases-of-the-web-design-process/. Remember that your product is limited in scope as being either a web application or as a mobile application.
To further clarify, the subcategories are: Project summary, Goals, Target audiences, Messages, and Competition. Answer the questions within each subcategories as best you can. Don't worry about trying to complete this all at once. This is your weekly assignment, so whatever you don't finish can be turned in next week. Go ahead and work in groups (in fact, I encourage it!).
*Here is a link for the startup class: http://startupclass.samaltman.com/
Work on this for about an hour - 90 minutes
If you're working at a company, your client is your boss and your user base is essentially what your client (boss) tells you it is. You can and should do your own research on the user base, but at the end, the product should be as your client (boss) wants it to be.
I'm doing this exercise so you can learn to build your own products, rather than having to build someone else's product. You will have plenty of opportunities to build other individuals' products when you're working for others. The design and implementation methodology/techniques are the same whether or not you're building for yourself and others. It is only this initial part about gathering your ideas and finding your target audience that is different.
Build something you are passionate about, while at the same time determining if your user base has a need for that solution. However, if you want to build something that you're passionate about and don't care if anyone wants to use it or purchase it, that's fine! That just means the user base is essentially you.
But, if you do want to build something that others will use or purchase, then you should first ask yourself and others what problems they're running into and then provide a solution or solutions for those problems.
More detailed explanation: http://blog.careerfoundry.com/the-difference-between-ux-and-ui-design-a-laymans-guide/
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZMN2T0L5GEk
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2wZUTe70w1Y
Basically, what you see is the user interface and what you experience is the user experience. They feed off of one another.
https://www.reskill.me/skills/ui-design
Link to the notes I've prepared for the videos: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1faI2TLFRUxd2hWzxGeSmL1bm66Pe6y2rf_LTd40J1Qo/edit?usp=sharing
Continue working on your in-class assignment. Again, the instructions are:
Use what you've just learned about the first steps of developing a project to answer a few questions regarding your idea. That is, fill out the answers to the subcategories within Project Definition mentioned in http://www.printmag.com/featured/phases-of-the-web-design-process/.
To further clarify, the subcategories are: Project summary, Goals, Target audiences, Messages, and Competition. Answer the questions within each subcategories as best you can.
Optional (but great): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Is2O666qDPs