Software Design

Most software concepts are developed to solve a business problem. Then the architects and software developers build out a model for all the functionality and features--you know the story. The big day arrives and the software is ready for launch. The technical people like it but the people who will use it every day aren't so keen on the end result. Why?

Software People Can Use

If you've read some of the other information on the High Monkey website already, you have probably picked up on our zeal for making things like websites and software easy to use. Usability isn't rocket science but it does require planning, thoughtful questioning, disciplined data gathering, and diplomacy. No developer likes to hear that their software is difficult for people to use. That same developer is likely to say, "But, I gave them what they asked for." While that may be true for what the software does, the design and layout of the interface is what makes people want to use a software tool.

Testing, Testing, and More Testing

HMC always starts its software interface redesign projects with testing. We take a typical group of users and have them follow a series of tasks, either to find or work with information managed by the software. These sessions are recorded to show the actual software screen with a picture-in-picture of the user (including facial expressions, vocal commentary, and occasional outbursts of frustration). Once this baseline of the users' experience is established, High Monkey has enough data to recommend design changes to improve the user interface. These changes often include page layouts, use of colors and fonts, design themes, graphical elements, and navigation elements such as buttons, text, and drop-down menus. Next, we often recommend a paper-based usability test for the new design concepts and layouts using printed screen mockups. Typical users are asked to point to a link or information on the page as if they were clicking with their mouse. The next level of testing typically includes on-screen mockups for computer based testing. This series of usability tests provides a baseline of user behavior and validation for the planned design improvements. Designs and layouts are tweaked and improved throughout the testing process based on the testers' comments.

A few of our software re-designs are presented here but please visit our client portfolio area to view the variety and depth of High Monkey's design expertise.

PeopleCenter

PayPlus Software came to High Monkey in search for some usability testing & redesign of their PeopleCenter application. In looking at better ways to restructure the modules and data within the application, HMC refreshed the...

MiddleDeskDrawer

Torchlight Data Keys engaged HMC to develop and design their new asset management software. Targeted towards an older audience, the software needed to be rich in color, clean, and easy for users to navigate around and enter...

inContact

RJS Software contacted High Monkey to redesign their inContact software. Through icon redesigns throughout, software logo change, and general color palette revisions, inContact got a modern facelift. The user interface is easier to use and more...