Hi Paul,
First thing I would say is that IA is a lot about process, and should
always start with user needs and expectations as much as the
organisations (which it sounds like you have in hand). Card sorting,
depth interviews and online surveys. I would not under-estimate the
benefit of getting an outside agency involved in that process since they
have a distance from your organisation that you can not have.
We did 3 separate tenders for companies to work on IA, Design, CMS
implementation / integration with our Collections management system. In
the end the first two went to the same company (Cogapp). Suggest you do
the same, and unlike us, don't do them all at once, but if possible, in
that order!
Matthew
-----Original Message-----
From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
Paul Groves
Sent: 29 October 2008 15:05
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Experience of Tendering Process for Website development?
On Wed, Oct 29, 2008 at 2:30 PM, Matthew Cock
<[log in to unmask]> wrote:
> Hi Paul,
>
> Are you talking about Information Architecture, visual design, content
> management system? Or all of them?
We've already largely established what features and content we require
and the other major issues that need to be considered, and have also
been researching and documenting the information architecture required
for the site in some detail and in a number of ways (diagrams mostly).
Visual design we've not specified in any great detail, as are somewhat
flexible in this, but have some general principles we need to adhere to
- accessibility obviously, but the site also needs to look slick, but
clear, whilst also being highly usable for a range of users, both
specialists and the general public, so we think a layered approach is
required here. We would like to use a Content Management System to
manage the site, including probably the high-level themes, but
object-level information will need to be retrieved from out collections
management system's database. We're also aware of some of the potential
drawbacks of using a CMS that isn't easily extended (e.g. via an API) or
that imposes its own constraints over what we can do, so we need
something quite flexible.
However, my main concern is how to prepare and present this information
for a formal tender in a way that potential suppliers would find
useful...
> I would recommend you include Cogapp in any list of suppliers to
> approach, they did a great job for us of IA and Design.
Thanks, will add them to our list
Paul
>
> Matthew
> Head of Web | Department of Learning and Audiences| The British Museum
> | www.britishmuseum.org
> t: 020 7323 8169 | m: 07971 433841
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Museums Computer Group [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of
> Paul Groves
> Sent: 29 October 2008 13:11
> To: [log in to unmask]
> Subject: Experience of Tendering Process for Website development?
>
> Dear all,
>
> I'm managing a substantial digitisation / web project at the Ashmolean
> Museum, we've recently gone live with a small publicity site about the
> project and its progress to date (see:
> http://jameelcentre.ashmolean.org ), but have now come to the point
> where we're firming up our brief with a view to putting to tender soon
> for development of the main website for the project (a much larger
undertaking).
> So I would be very interested to hear of other people's experience and
> tips regarding the process of putting to tender for website
> development in the cultural heritage sector and also recommendations
> of potential suppliers to contact. We've been very pleased with the
> work done by the agency that put together our publicity website
(Keepthinking:
> http://www.keepthinking.it/ ), but obviously need to solicit and
> compare proposals from other suppliers too. Thanks
>
> regards
>
> Paul
>
> --
> Paul Groves, Project Manager
> The Yousef Jameel Online Centre for the Study of Islamic and Eastern
> Art Dept. of Eastern Art, Ashmolean Museum Beaumont Street, Oxford,
OX1 2PH.
> UK
> T: +44 (0)1865 278289
> W: http://jameelcentre.ashmolean.org/
>
> For disclaimer, see http://www.ashmolean.org/email/
>
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--
Paul Groves, Project Manager
The Yousef Jameel Online Centre for the Study of Islamic and Eastern Art
Dept. of Eastern Art, Ashmolean Museum Beaumont Street, Oxford, OX1 2PH.
UK
T: +44 (0)1865 278289
W: http://jameelcentre.ashmolean.org/
For disclaimer, see http://www.ashmolean.org/email/
**************************************************
For mcg information and to manage your subscription to the list, visit the website at http://www.museumscomputergroup.org.uk
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