Week 3 Review (10/19/2008): Web project briefs and competitive assessments

In week 3 the Teams were assigned the following projects,

• Museum Lobby (Urban Amoeba)
  
• Exhibit Creation Tool (PDXDiscovery)
• Curator Tool (CTScoop)
• Digital Asset Management (Weavers)
  
• Community Forum (Kiss Army)
  

Teams should be brainstorming and updating their web design briefs to reflect their specific assignments. These are not due (and to be presented) until week 5, so you still have more time to work on them. I have uploaded some examples of final proposals from previous classes to the class group. This is not what is needed by week 5, but what you are working towards in week 10. Your brief should include objectives, goals, possible features, a little on your audience/users, and a little competitive positioning for your project. Use your team's Google group Discussion, Pages and Files area to collaborate on the brief. I will be available to bounce ideas off in class.

For next week, teams should be focusing on their competitive analysis which will compare and contrast the features of your competitor/comparison sites. You should use comparison sites that demonstrate a design or feature that you are recommending for your project site. Each member of the team should review at least one site. I have uploaded some example analyses from previous classes to the class group. Please compile your competitive analyses into one file, upload to your team's Google group Files area and email a copy to appler@pdx.edu with subject "Competitive analysis for team *name goes here*" (<--don't forget to change this to your teams name!). There will be some time in week 4's class to complete this assignment.

This week's reading assignment is Chapter 3 (p. 51, 56-57) & Chapter 9 (p. 234-256) of the course book. This will prepare you for Week 4's class where we will begin looking at Technical Assessment.

Have a good week,
Richard.