| vocation : case studies |
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"To make an apple
pie from scratch, you must first invent the universe."
Carl Sagan, Cosmos, 23 Nov 1980 |
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| | financial
services | non profit | retail
| client services | |
| Citibank |
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Role: |
Lead Information Architect,
ten months |
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Industry: |
Financial Services |
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Challenge: |
Create a web-based banking
application for small businesses that integrated three disparate applications
into one cohesive interface. |
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Response: |
Leading multidisciplinary
teams, I was instrumental in defining and developing the application
that integrated banking, payroll, online bill payment and human resources.
As lead on the strategy team, I evaluated potential partners and vendors,
identified product requirements and conducted secondary research on
the target audience. During the technology requirements phase, I represented
the user during integration meetings between the five technology teams
and I led five IAs, overseeing brainstorming and documentation. In
anticipation of new application feature sets, I outlined subsequent
teams and project plans. |
| Working Today |
|
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Role: |
Consultant, three months |
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Industry: |
Insurance, non profit |
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Challenge: |
Director wanted to improve
the enrollment rates, but had a very limited budget and resources. |
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Response:
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Staying under budget,
I introduced IA and usability methodology to the business team and
designed high impact, low cost changes to the web site. Specific changes
included revising the content and introducing section landing pages.
As part of the process, I attended product meetings and initiative
planning sessions to identify viral marketing opportunities and more
effective use of Internet technologies. To limit future usability
problems, I drafted RFPs and evaluated potential branding and development
teams. |
| TeleTruth |
|
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Role: |
Facilitator, information
designer, Eight weeks |
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Industry: |
Advocacy |
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Challenge: |
Categorize ten years worth
of research reports and filings in such a way layman may understand
the issues around telecommunications policy. |
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Response: |
I led board of directors’
sessions in which they defined the organization, the strategy for
success and the public outreach program. I organized the Board’s
wealth of documentation and information into a web site that can be
understood by the general public while still useful to other organizations
involved in the campaigns. The web site is also presented simply so
it can be maintained by the non-technical volunteers. |
| Lands' End |
|
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Role: |
Information Architect,
14 weeks |
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Industry: |
Retail |
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Challenge: |
Test and prepare a new
check out process that introduced customization, multi-destination
shipping. |
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Response: |
This project began as
user testing and QA of a prototype for the new checkout process. I
reviewed the prototype to prepare and noted terminal usability problems
that contrasted with the company’s philosophy of superior customer
service. I successfully recommend delaying the launch to rework the
customer experience. Under strict time restraints of six weeks, I
created a new HTML prototype to the development team, complete with
interface design, instructional copy and messaging requirements. As
part of the revision process, I introduced usability methodology to
the newly formed web department. |
| Fashion500 |
|
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Role: |
Business Analyst, eight
weeks |
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Industry: |
Retail, couture fashion |
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Challenge: |
Rapid documentation of
a retail site featuring 20+ couture designers to secure second round
of investment and attract developers. |
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Response: |
I led condensed requirements
sessions, identifying business and functionality requirements to meet
a pressing RFP deadline. I then translated this information and the
business model into process diagrams, illustrating information flows
between business units. Taking these materials to the client’s
vendors, I led specification sessions with potential development teams.
The deliverables were then used to secure $2+ million in a second
round funding for the project. |
| PwC Consulting |
|
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Role: |
Information Architect
(subcontractor to Organic), seven weeks total |
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Industry: |
Client Services |
|
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Challenge: |
Create interactive component
of PwC Consulting's IPO. |
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Response: |
I identified and profiled
audiences for the intranet, extranet, and public site. I then used
the profiles to identify speculative functionality and feature sets
that were the basis of the interactive proposal. Leveraging this early
work, I created a modular site structure, navigation schema and a
robust site search. Working with the client's editorial team, we documented
all content and assets — information I used to help shape the
CMS interface. Also, I prepared and led the CMS instructional sessions
and coordinated the content migration |
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