what's next and the web brief

Dear All,

Further to my comment yesterday, here is a timeline draft we should try to keep to be able to finish this project in time. Of course some details might change, but roughly, this is what we will do.

Although the content of the website can be developed by you during and between meetings (with assistance from me and Roddy), the technical development of the website would require collaboration with an expert from outside the university who understands our needs and can develop a website that is tailored to meet these needs. To solve this problem, I have approached artist Justin McKeown (at the moment Visiting Lecturer in Fine Art) who is willing to be involved as both artistic advisor and web designer. Although I will support this collaboration from my own fellowship budget with some money, it is quite a big job for Justin, so the most important thing is to make sure we get further funding from the Faculty.

On the basis of the rough idea that we have developed so far, the time we have for meetings and work on this module, the time we have to develop the degree show and the time we need for further financial support, I propose the following timeline for work (it is just information for you and subject for changes)

1. By the end of this week everybody send their ideas, questions regarding the website to this blog that Roddy and I will incorporate in the document about the project
2. Next week Roddy presents the project plan to the Faculty and ask for further financial support for Justin's involvement
3. Once we have a proposal from the Faculty for Justin the group meets (Monday, 23 February) to finalise the web brief (based on how much money and time we have) that we send to Justin (to be sent to him by 24 February)
4. Justin will need approximately a month to develop the fisrt draft of the website based on our brief, so in the meantime the group meets on 9 March and then on 23 March to overview content development and to discuss plans with degree show. We use this blog to keep in touch between meetings.
5. Once Justin is ready with the first draft (hopefully at the end of March) we arrange a two-day meeting / workshop (outside of scheduled class) to discuss his draft and possible amendments + to have a workshop when you would learn the skills to be able to upload content on the website. We need to confirm these dates later, but I am hoping to do it before the Easter break or
4. Justin then finalise website while practitioners start uploading content. Contact by email.
5. From the Easter break you could develop the website individually and we would meet from time to time to overview process and to develop the degree show (this I think would need to be extra meetings outside of the module)
6. November 2009 - MA degree show and website launch (public event)


Also, to help you with thinking about the document (web brief) we need to put together very promptly, here is the list of things what we would need to talk about on Monday. Until then I would be grateful if you could send your notes to this blog.
This list is from: http://www.smileycat.com/miaow/archives/000226.php
with some comments.

1. Summary
Provide a brief overview of the whole project.

The first half of my comment yesterday was the first draft of the overview, feel free to suggest amendments.

2. Current Situation
Describe the current situation:
what is not working
what needs to be improved
what is working
Why the project is needed
what is hoped to be achieved.

Again, I will try to write this part up, but would need input from you, so please just write some notes after each point and send it back to me. I think in this part we should talk about why we are doing this project, so try to think about possibilities and problems you have at the moment with disseminating your work.


2. Proposal
Describe the project in more detail:
What is needed to be done?
Target Audiences
Who is the project targeted at?
Are there any specific characteristics that these audiences have?


3. Goals
What are the main goals of the project?
What do we want to achieve in the present?
What are the long term possibilities?

4. Requirements
Are there any specific requirements that must be incorporated?
I think here we should talk about any types of content we definitely want in the website (like hyperlinks, videos etc.), also about aesthetic decisions, possibility to use the site from outside (when you will not have YSJ accounts any more) etc.


5. Promotion / Communication Plan
How will this project be promoted and communicated?
How will we maintain the website?

6. Timing
What is the deadline for the project?
Are there any milestones that must be met?

7. Project Sponsor
Who is the main sponsor and who will be signing-off the project?

8. Stakeholders
Who is involved in the project from an oversight and team perspective?

Judit