I'm currently trying to implement a usable UX documentation system , streamlining the flow of work between User Researchers/Usability specialists, Information Architects and Visual Designers.
Just to be clear, it's only the documentation process I'm wrangling with not the UX process itself! The current documentation process is:
- IA produces wireframes in one document.
- Usability specialist conducts expert review, cutting & pasting wireframes into a separate document adding callouts and notes.
- IA amends the original wireframe document.
- User Researcher completes user test, creates new document capturing feedback.
- IA amends the original wireframe document.
- The visual designer (possibly external) works from a multitude of documents.
- Visual designer creates a visual design templates document for review.
- IA, URs & VDs review design, notes are captured in template doc.
- The dev (possibly external) who'll be working from a multitude of documents then starts work...
That's a total of 5 documents (and several versions of each of those). Messy to say the least.
My 'ideal' documentation system/flow/process is as follows:
- IA produces wireframes in one document (version controlled; audience is usability specialist)
- Usability specialist conducts expert review, adds a callout/notes 'layer' to the wireframe doc (version controlled; audience is IA)
- IA amends wireframes (version controlled; audience is User Researcher)
- User Researcher completes user test, captures feedback in a new callout/notes 'layer' to the wireframe doc (version controlled; audience is IA).
- IA amends the original wireframe document (version controlled; audience is Designer).
- The visual designer works from a single document - callouts/note layer doc history can be viewed/traced if required.
- The visual designer adds their designs to the document/system, notes from URs, IAs and other VDs can be added for modifications to be made.
- The dev starts work...
And so to my question(s)... Is this possible? Is this practical? If so, is there a documentation/version control system that could manage this?
Cheers.