Rough Designs
Each tailors to a different type of user while maintaining core app functionality. One of them will have TWO layouts for the same design style (i.e. you will have at least 2 different designs for at least 1 of the screens; that is, for at least 1 screen, show a completely different way of achieving the same functionality).
An iGoogle-esque, movable "tools" page for search criteria that dynamically expand upon clicks and submenus that drop down on the sidebar to toggle them through javascript. Customization and ease-of-access for familiarity are key focuses due to the audience of this particular app being primarily technologically impaired towards certain ends. Thus, usability is key.
Home
Search Results
Graph Data
This design takes on a minimalist approach. With nothing more than a greeting, search bar, and (collapsed) Advanced Functions, the user is greeted with an aesthetically pleasing window with an intuitive approach. Entering the phrase you want to search for will automatically search using the top 10 social media sites (with more to choose from in the Advanced Functions). After the search is performed, instead of reloading a new page, the user will see the page expand and scroll down to a new section, displaying the word cloud and other visual representations of the data. At the bottom of the page the user will find a button that has the ability to download a copy of the report. To create a new search, the user can either scroll back to the top of the page and perform it like the beginning, or they can choose to click one of the words in the cloud. Clicking one of the words will perform a new search, adding a layer to the search results.
Example: User searches initially for "South Carolina State Fair" and there is a word cloud displaying (Corn Dogs) (Music) (Pig Race) (Prizes) (etc.). If the user clicks the Corn Dog word, a new search will be performed which looks for "South Carolina State Fair + Corn Dogs", which will lead to a more specified version of the visual data.
I believe this version of the user interface keeps things simple, so all age groups can use it, while being visually appealing. If users want more functionality, it's found in the Advanced Function, and even more information can be obtained from the report.
This design is meant to carefully walk users through starting a new search and properly narrowing it down so it is more likely that what they are actually looking for is found and reflected in the results.
The home page has the standard menu options along the top that will be present on all pages. Then it has an explanation of what the web app does and how it will walk you through the process. Finally in the center of the page is a big "Begin new search" button meant to draw the user's eye and be the obvious place to start.
The login page will again have the standard menu options at the top and a paragraph explaining the advantages to having a registered account on this site, such as saved searches and more export functions for the results. Then it will basically be split down the middle vertically with half of the page devoted to those who already have an existing account, and the other for those who wish to create one. There are forms for each type of visitor and submit buttons at the end of each.
Once clicking the "Begin New Search" button from the home page, users will be taken to a search walkthrough page where there is a tabbed questionnaire. The tabs on the side are clickable if they wish to traverse that way as well as each tab having buttons at the bottom to move forward and back through the tabs. The tabs are each focused on questions that can further refine a user's search to make the results more accurate. The first will ask for Keywords which can be entered into fields. Most of the other tabs will have checkboxes instead of allowing open input. At the end of the last tab, there will be an additional button at the bottom beside the back button and greyed out next button which will allow users to submit their search criteria.
This design is meant to use extreme simplicity and specific questions to better understand exactly what the user is attempting to find.The main focus is on refining the user's search to as narrow a field as possible in order to make results more accurate without confusing the user by requiring them to figure out how to narrow their search through a standard use search bar.
My Design is to focus on the communication between users. This page will allow users to exchange imparting of information or news. Each as, they can post their opinions on related topics. All of this users are able to view others logs and all logs will be public once you post it.
This the home page after the user has login to the system. They can check the checkbox of type of data such as ,text,image,video to be the return results.
Introduction of this website and a basic user manual.
Basic Contact information for this website.
User login, log out and creating accounts page.
My design's focus is on cutting out work for the majority of users. It has the traditional "search" bar, login, and related searches tab that populates once you make a search. However, underneath the search bar is a "popular searches" section that shows the top 6 keyword searches made for the last (day/week) and shows the three top links that are clicked once that search is executed. This saves work for the majority of users as they will be looking to make searches dealing with popular events, which will most likely appear in the popular searches.
