William Yarbrough

Comments

The comments widget needed a fluid layout to support client sites of various sizes. A color scheme was created as well as enhancements to social media sharing. The widget used JavaScript to “pop-out” various contextual menus, allowing user-generated content to take center stage. After researching user habits on web-based commenting interfaces, I designed a mobile web version. After conducting user testing, we were able to produce a blazing fast experience for clients’ mobile sites.

Forums

In updating forums, I needed to implement new color schemes along with a new navigational structure, new functionality and custom iconography. The new forum widget enhancements included: a Q&A feature for customer service purposes; a real-time search that would compare terms in a draft post with those in existing posts, to prevent reposting on a topic that was already being discussed; and new in-line moderation capabilities that allow editors to quick assess and deal with problems.

Personal Dashboard

Users needed a dashboard to check messages and keep up with contacts as well as organize and maintenance content that they created. The personal dashboard that I devised included separate first- and third-person interfaces tailored to the needs of each use case. Blog entries, photo galleries, reviews and other content were all aggregated to the dashboard, giving users a one-stop shop for quickly finding information.

Reviews

Retail clients needed a fast, effective tool to help users rate products and services. Incorporating lessons learned from Amazon as well as client feedback, I creating a reviews widget. The new widget allowed for a flexible system that integrated well with client categories, could be easily customized using CSS, and was quick to use. Research into user habits on mobile web review interfaces and extensive user testing helped make the experience intuitive and fast.

Real-Time Chat Client

I created two different skins to customize user experiences for a real-time, interactive chat client powering millions of user interactions daily. I designed real-time polls, betting odds, scoreboards and leader boards plus Twitter integration and photo uploads.

Native Forum App

Building off the forums that I described above and using the human interface guidelines of a major mobile OS, I designed native applications to seamlessly integrate the web portion with a native app. The app was built to give users confidence in interaction by relying on existing user interface patterns.

Responsive Marketplace Microsite

Built to improve lead generation and demo products, this microsite was created as both a sales tool and a marketing effort. Using responsive web techniques and media queries, my design creates a fluid experience across multiple platforms.

Event Calendar Wireframe

I created a series of wireframes to work through user interaction for a custom event calendar system. The new feature not only allows users to create events for groups and site connections, but it also lets clients funnel in messages and events regarding sales, warranty expiration and planned site maintenance outages.

Translation Workflow Wireframe

I created wireframes as a proof-of-concept testing the effectiveness of a new interface for text translation services. The interface’s workflow had to include both a translator and then a content editor. Unique problems arising from contextual content made this concept perfect for wireframe testing, conserving code and user testing for a working prototype.

User Personas

Personas

These examples show two different methods for site design personas: one is only role-based, and the other is role- and skill-based. The more complex personas helped the creative director design for two distinct groups, those with technical knowledge and those without it. Both audiences were of equal importance to the client, so creating personas helped the design work for a wide range of users.