Development and Design of Multimedia Titles Unit E

Objectives Plan the title Create and test the title Multimedia design guidelines Design for interactivity Interactive design guidelines Multimedia for the web

Rule of Thumb Development Tip Production 20% Planning 80%

Multimedia Development Phase 1 - Planning the Title Develop the concept 1 State the purpose 2 Identify the target audience 3 Determine the treatment 4 Develop the specifications 5 Storyboard and Navigation 6

Multimedia Development Phase 2 – Creating and Testing Develop the content 7 Author the content 8 Test the content 9

Develop the Concept 1 What, in general, do we want the title to accomplish? Support the company’s vision of their product Brainstorm ideas Hold “focus group” sessions

2 State the Purpose What, specifically, do we want to accomplish? Goals support the vision Objectives are developed from the goals and must be clear, measurable and obtainable Keeps the team focused

Identify Target Audience 3 Who will use the title? Can use demographics, lifestyle, attitudes Need to identify as large an audience as possible Larger audience is more difficult to develop for

Determine the Treatment 4 What is the look and feel? Treatment: how the title will be presented to the user Tone: funny, serious, light, heavy, formal, informal Approach: amount and type of user direction for interactivity Metaphor: theme Emphasis: on various multimedia elements (budget can dictate)

Develop the Specifications 5 What precisely does the title include, and how does it work? What will appear on each screen? Playback system: platform & processor speed Elements included: How sound is recorded Design resolution Video specifications Fonts/colors Functionality: interactivity specifications User interface: how to navigate

Storyboard and Navigation 6 What do the screens look like and how are they linked?

Storyboard and Navigation 6 Navigation is linking screens via buttons, hypertext and hot spots Exploratory type: little structure (games)

Storyboard and Navigation 6 Sequential type: linear (stories, books, presentations, tutorials)

Storyboard and Navigation 6 Topical type: menu/search (catalog, encyclopedia, kiosk)

7 Develop the Content How do we generate the content? Who will be responsible for copyright/licensing issues? Libraries: stock media vs. create in-house Personnel: artists, photographers, musicians, actors, writers, editors How will the content be archived and documented? Element database

8 Author the Title How do we bring it all together? Programmer uses scripting Designers for user interface Authors for content Team members all work together

9 Testing Does it work the way it was planned? Usually ongoing during development Prototypes: proof of concept test Design testing: informal - how user interacts Usability testing: formal - user filmed and asked questions during interaction Function testing: does it work as planned?

9 Testing Alpha testing Beta testing In-house Try to make it crash Document errors in bug reports Beta testing Select potential users to test

Multimedia Design Guidelines Unity Balance Movement

Multimedia Design Guidelines – Balance Distribution of optical weight Ability of element to attract user’s eye Determined by object nature and size Nature: shape, color, brightness, type

Multimedia Design Guidelines – Balance Screen position Symmetrical balance Asymmetrical balance No balance Asymmetrical Balance Symmetrical Balance

Multimedia Design Guidelines – Unity Intra-screen: do screen elements fit in? Inter-screen: consistency of entire title

Multimedia Design Guidelines – Movement How user’s eyes move through screen elements Optical center (above physical center) Designer can control via: Control starting place with graphic Use lines to point in a direction Use color gradients Have entities looking in a particular direction Emphasize an element in some way

Design for Interactivity Audience Title type Content Title elements

Design for Interactivity – Audience Understand user’s needs How does user work with the title

Design for Interactivity – Title Type Access specific information quickly – use menu Reference work – use menu, index, search Kiosk gathering information – control fields Game/entertainment – allow random interaction (exploratory)

Design for Interactivity – Content Content volume Adds more navigation levels Can increase confusion Provide hotwords or areas to jump Use pop-up windows, scrollbars, bookmarks Content nature Can suggest a theme

Design for Interactivity – Title Elements User controls for video, audio

Interactive Design Guidelines Make it simple, easy to understand and easy to use (intuitive) First screen shows contents and how to navigate Metaphors consistent with content Elements consistent with metaphors

Interactive Design Guidelines Build in consistency

Interactive Design Guidelines Use design templates to Provide consistency Shorten development time Prevent “object shift”

Interactive Design Guidelines Provide feedback Provide choices and escapes User has control: view or skip

Multimedia for the Web Web sites can be designed for multiple audiences

Multimedia for the Web How to attract viewer attention Flashy and catchy intros Repeat viewers can skip How to keep viewer interest How to help viewers get what they want from the site

Multimedia for the Web Provide quick downloads Keep it simple Users scan, don’t read; use keywords Average user spends < 60 seconds and needs to Capture their interest Understand focus of site Understand how to navigate it Understand how to get information Keep the site fresh

Web Development Tips All pages reachable in 3-5 clicks; return home in 1 click Label navigation options clearly Color-code text links Provide a site map Provide a search tool

Banner Ads Use for Web promotions Include sound and animation >50% look at; <1% click them Banner placement and size is important Usually placed at top of page

Issue: Online Privacy Is consumer feedback worth the price? Cookies Buyer vs. seller benefits Stakeholder debates Individuals Consumer advocacy groups Businesses Government agencies

Development and Design of Multimedia Titles End