Multimedia Project Development

1
Multimedia Project Development
Lecture 2 Definition Stage
2
Definition Stage

• Identifying Goals
• Includes the creation of
• The Creative Brief and
• Technical Brief
• Definition of Scope
• Definition of Requirements
• Together with the Project Plan these can form the
  Project Initiation Document

3
Outlining Goals of the Production

• If the goals of the production are not recorded
  then how do we know when it is finished and a
  success?
• Record the goals in the Creative brief
• There is never only one goal!

4
Example Goals

• A band's enhanced CD ROM single
• "To promote the song and associated album through
  the video, lyric sheet and other artist related
  information. Also to promote the sale of the
  band's merchandise through an online catalogue of
  merchandise"

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Definition Stage- Creative Brief 1

• State the deliverables for the client in detail
• "Deliver a website to allow electronic commerce
  transactions between BoBBuild Co. and their
  customers for all the products and services that
  BoBBuild Co. offer. The secondary aim is to
  inform present and any potential customers in the
  building trade of the services and facilities of
  the company"
• State the client deliverables
• "the client will publicise and market their web
  offering using mail and poster campaigns"

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Definition Stage- Creative Brief 2

• State the methods that will be used to address
  target audience
• Describe tone and style of site and how they will
  effect the audience
• "The style used for the "Grotty Horror Show" site
  will be dark (mostly Black) backgrounds, gothic
  and utilising the OTT "gory" themes developed in
  the films promotional materials"
• Be as specific as possible
• Possibly use outline storyboards

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Outline Creative Brief

• Viewable from the Macromedia site together with a
  sample creative brief
• http//www.macromedia.com/resources/techniques/res
  ources/define/creative_brief.rtf
• http//www.macromedia.com/resources/techniques/res
  ources/define/sample_creative_brief.rtf
• The website for Macromedia's production guides is
• http//www.macromedia.com/resources/techniques/res
  ources/

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Definition Stage- Technical Brief

• Defines the chosen approach to the technical
  build of the production
• State the proposed delivery platform and method
• Including the reasons for their selection
• Defines any new functionality to be created for
  the production
• State any current system(s) that the production
  will link to

9
Definition Stage

• Outline Requirements Document
• State the major processes involved in completing
  a "transaction" on the product
• A transaction is not just a sale but can be a
• Search for information
• Request for further detail
• Upload of information
• This document is not a sitemap or a detailed
  walkthrough of the site.
• These will be requested later, after the
  usability review

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Setting the Budget

• One of the expectations of the client will be the
  budget
• Client expectations can often exceed the bugetary
  constraints of the projects!
• At this stage an estimate of the overall cost
  should be provided
• This will be clarified further after the project
  plan is completed
• Not applicable in this project as only you will
  work on the project

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Budget Estimating Method 1

• Two main ways of creating estimates
• "Ballpark" estimate
• Generally based on experience of similar projects
• Improves with more experience but tends to be
  less accurate than TM
• With e-commerce it can also take into account the
  potential profit of the project

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Budget Estimating Method 2

• Time and materials (more accurate)
• Estimate the work to be performed
• Charge that figure by the daily rate for the
  resources used
• The resource used X time used cost
• Designer (_at_350/day) X 2 days 700

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Budget Estimating 3

• Time and materials can work on a basic cost with
  the profit added on
• You will not have all the information about the
  project yet as the client
• Has not made their final decision and
• Is liable to change their requirements
• So it is essential to highlight and communicate
  any areas where you are unclear
• If you make assumptions then state them!
• e.g. All content will be provided by the client

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Lab Session later

• We will discuss your choices for your assignment
  project.
• We will work through the process of identifying
  the client, user and competitor analysis for the
  chosen project (and an example one for guidance)