Design Principles Of Multimedia Application (Rehman ) (Group 9)

1.0 Introduction of Design Principles Of Multimedia Application

Web based projects and disks base projects are the two main essential  development of multimedia application. Both are very helpful to communicate effectively.  The combination of text, image, audio, video and graphics are the core components of multimedia application to make it more effective and interesting.  This blog will help the readers  to understand more about development phase of multimedia application, design principles , benefits of multimedia and much more ( Staylor, J., 2002).

2.0 Design

Interactive design - It is one f the interesting and important component of a multimedia application. It will make the application more nicer and attract the attention of the user.   The usage of pictures and layouts are very essential  in interface design, because it will help the users  by guiding them for the next processes. For example figure 1 shows the interactive of the user for a particular application. The response from the user in a particular application called as interactive. 

Figure 1: Interactive Design (www9.atpages.jp)

Graphic Design – It is also play and important role in multimedia application. The developers spend a lot of time to master it. The principles like contrast, balance, continuity, texture, form, color, all have to apply in graphic design. For example figure 2 shows how well the combination of multimedia elements are used. The color, contrast, image, texture all are used in good manner to produce a good image.

Figure 2: Graphic Design (www.r3veblog.com)

Navigational Design – It will help the users  by guiding them to get around the application. By developing a reasonable structure will help the users to understand the important message of the application from  one interface.  It will make the user easy to identify what information they need. To describe a best navigation it must be a unique one. Normally applications and websites will provide alternative way such as hypertext, image maps, buttons and much more. For example figure 3 shows the navigational links in particular application. It is designed to direct the users to get around the application. 

Figure 3: Navigational Design (skytechgeek.com)

Textual Content – It will develop for the reason of readability and accessibility. The texture of an application is very important because it is the component that describes the message of the particular application. The texture of an application is different from one another according to the purpose of the application. During the development process the developer must consider the latest technology issues, for example system requirements, throughput, bandwidth and much more. For example figure 4 shows different types of text and its design. Each of the text have their own uniqueness. It is very important in textual design (Chance, D., 2005).

Figure 4: Text Design (www.shutterstock.com)

3.0 Development

In this section the author discussed about the multiple phases of a multimedia application development. 

Blueprint Phase

• ·         Discussion and verification of project and strategic planning

• ·         Find out the possibilities (Benefits and Costs)

• ·         Conducting Analysis ( Target Audience, Objectives, Goals)

• ·         Describe Specification of technical elements and requirements of run-time.

• ·    Develop outline of the content ( To know the existing system and to identify future enhancements)

• ·       Develop work statement which include schedule of the project, proposed budget, and project plan.

Design Phase

• ·         Develop the design process ( Navigation, Interface, Text , Graphics and much more)

• ·         Develop the storyboard of the application and also flowchart.

• ·         Evaluate the process of the design to avoid any drawbacks in the process.

• ·         Develop and describe a prototype.

• ·         Do testing in the prototype using different type of users.

Production Phase

• ·         Do changes in the prototype if necessary .

• ·         Develop a draft for the new texture.

• ·         Develop or capture and change the graphic elements. (Image , animation, 3D, 2D and much more)

• ·      Organize the logistics for  production of Video and audio if necessary.

• ·         Programming and authoring (Website and CD-ROM)

• ·         Design for the packaging and printing labels.

• ·         Develop a digital prototype for the approval of customer.

Implementation Phase

• ·         Organize evaluation and quality assurance testing.

• ·         Do changes in content, graphics, design and much more if necessary.

• ·         Conclude the licensing problem of software.

• ·         Installation and integration of the system. For example  upload the website into the server.

• ·         Prepare a master disk

• ·         Deliver the full documentation of the project ( Liu, M., 2000).

4.0 Analysis

Normally the analysis process will happen in the blueprint phase and continue in the development process. The stakeholders participation in the analysis process is very essential to produce a successful project. This analysis process will help the stakeholders to identify the target audience in easiest way once they know what they going to develop. There are lot of techniques to implement this analysis process such as having group discussion among stakeholders , mind mapping, interview with customer and much more.

Need Assessment

This process will help to identify the problems, help to know the target audience, help to determine the actual environment, help to identify the drawbacks of the project and also help to fine solutions. When this process is going on, the developers can identify the final output of the project can reach the customer successfully or not.

Goal Analysis

The goal analysis process will lessening the goals of the project into objectives and considered by the performance of the project. For all the goal statement, the developer have to describe a reasonable performances by considering amount, quality and nature. The developer have to clarify the complete goal statement until it finish the target.  The complete goal statement can be analyze during the discussion among stakeholders and customers.

Audience Analysis

This process will help the developer to identify the users requirements. This process can be done through questionnaires, interviews, observation and much more. By conducting this process the developer can identify the exact neediness of the customer which require by the customer. It will make the output of the project to be success and appreciable.

Subject Matter Analysis

This process will help the developer to identify what are the contents need to be insert in the project. For this process all the developers such as trainers, writers, designers, graphic artists and much more have to sit together and discuss about it to produce a better output. They have to identify what are the best ways and methods to develop a successful project ( Kuzu, Akbulut, Sahin, 2007).

5.0 Multimedia Terms

In this section the author discussed about the activities and basic terms that involved in the multimedia application development process.

• Analysis – To identify the actual objectives, other criteria and the important of the project.

• User Requirements – The functional and technical requirements of the project by the users.

• Statement of work -  The documentation of full structure of the project including budget, schedule, terms, constraints , work specification, description of work, objectives and much more.

• Project Plan – The description of how to achieve the target of the project, user specification and objectives.

• Content Outline – The description of what are the things going to be reuse and the things going to be create.

• Flowchart – It shows the full process of the project by connecting the elements in the project.

• Storyboards -  It will show the primary design of the project. For example the navigation functions, layouts, texts, colors and much more.

• Prototype – It is the example of a completed project which develop for the approval.

• Conversion of Media Assets – It will convert the original files to usable file for the project. For example videos, audios, graphics, pictures and much more.

• Testing – It will be very useful for the developers because the project will be tested by the target audience and the feedback's from them will help the developer to produce a good project.

• Programming – It is used to develop the required functions using coding. For example functions like linking one page to another page, designing, effects and much more.

• Quality Assurance – It will evaluate all the components of a particular project whether it working correctly or not before produce to the customer.

• Software Licensing Agreement – The software that used in the project by the developer need to be paid for the licensing fee because it is a third party software.

• Gold Master Disk – The completed project need to be copied in a CD or DVD in order to produce to the customer. This are the original copies of the project (Clark, R., 1999).

6.0 Conclusion 

By completing the research study on design principles of multimedia application the author able to understand the important of principles that used in multimedia applications. The basic terms and activities involved in development process of a multimedia application is one of the essential criteria to follow in all multimedia project. 

By applying the above mentioned principles in a project will guide a developer to a successful project. The principles are must for a developer. By applying those principles a developer can produce a better project. 

In future the author planned to use those principles in his project. For a new developer like  author the principles are main guidance. It will lead the author to produce a better and effective project in near future.