Tech Writers on GUI Design Teams

Subject: Tech Writers on GUI Design Teams
From: Jonathan Stoppi <stops -at- qualum -dot- com>
To: "TECHWR-L" <techwr-l -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com>
Date: Sun, 14 Apr 2002 03:48:30 -0400 (EDT)


Heather Searl asks:

>>I am putting together a proposal that outlines the need for a
cross-functional team that designs our software's GUI. I'd like to hear from people who have experiences with this type of team, especially (but not only) if there was a technical writer on the team. <<

In my experience in the current and previous job, it wasn't anything as formal as that.

The developers created a GUI that worked but looked like something you might glimpse on the Addams Family's PC. Then I'm asked to document it, give an involuntarily yelp, redesign it off my own bat, show it to the people in charge, they are surprised it can look like that, and at the next progress meeting the GUI person is charged with implementing the new design (with various tweaks, as required).

Of course, this only works if the person in question is a trained designer with a few years' experience designing data management systems - but given the right person, it beats designing by committee.

- Jonathan Stoppi
Draws the line
stops -at- qualum -dot- com






^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
Are you using Doc-to-Help or ForeHelp? Switch to RoboHelp for Word for $249
or to RoboHelp Office for only $499. Get the PC Magazine five-star rated
Help authoring tool for less! Go to http://www.ehelp.com/techwr

Free copy of ARTS PDF Tools when you register for the PDF
Conference by April 30. Leading-Edge Practices for Enterprise
& Government, June 3-5, Bethesda,MD. www.PDFConference.com

---
You are currently subscribed to techwr-l as: archive -at- raycomm -dot- com
To unsubscribe send a blank email to leave-techwr-l-obscured -at- lists -dot- raycomm -dot- com
Send administrative questions to ejray -at- raycomm -dot- com -dot- Visit http://www.raycomm.com/techwhirl/ for more resources and info.


Previous by Author: Making better standards
Next by Author: Re: Publish 400+ Excel Spreadsheets?
Previous by Thread: RE: Tech Writers on GUI Design Teams
Next by Thread: RE: Tech Writers on GUI Design Teams


What this post helpful? Share it with friends and colleagues:


Sponsored Ads