The document discusses key areas of application architecture including navigation, page layout, functionality, on-screen feedback, calls to action, and iconography. It emphasizes designing navigation that adapts to the screen and situation, simplifying complex options while still including all functionality, and using techniques like drop downs and drag and drop to enhance usability. Feedback and clear calls to action are important to guide users. Icons can make applications more visually appealing when used with text labels.

1. user experience agency

2. • What is application architect?
“Primary responsibility of the application architect is to provide the overall guidance and
structure for creating and maintaining the whole software effort of a company”
• Application architect is as important and requires as much attention as web site
architect.
• As UX practitioners it is our job to make sure that applications are just as easy and
simple to use as websites! If anything, making applications usable and friendly to
use is a more challenging task.
• Just like there are guidelines and best practises for websites, the same can be
applied to applications.
What is Application Architect?

3. Research
Key Areas In Application Architecture

4. Complex applications have moved aware from simple top navigation, which include drop-downs
etc. Instead you are seeing more applying the Microsoft Ribbon approach. This approach allows
more options to be facilitated.
The navigation can adapt to the situation on screen. In larger applications, it’s not essential to
have all the same options available all the time. Instead it’s ideal to have the navigation adapt to
what is available on what needs to be done on screen. It’s important to have the transition
between the navigations to be flawless. You do not want to confuse the users by changing the
navigation randomly.
Microsoft’s Ribbon adds extra options to the main navigation depending on what is on screen or
what the user has selected.
Navigation

5. Applications normally involve complex
functionalities, which can influence the way a
layout might look.
Rather than placing all options in one go and
making things look overly complex. It’s the
responsibility of IA practitioners and designers
to make the layout as simple as possible. This
can be done by simplifying what is displayed,
and expect to use an ‘advance’ to access
complex options.
This approach will allow the layout appear
more simple, but it doesn’t remove any
important functionality. However, for this to
work well, you need to make sure the
‘advance’ options can be accessed easily.
Page Layout (1)

6. The layout of palettes & canvas needs to be well
structured and easy for them to do work.
Sections should be moveable to make it easier for
users to organise the screen layout to best suit
their needs.
Expandable screen sections, which allow the
resizing of section. This means users can give
priority to certain functions when required.
Page Layout (2)

7. To make the interaction with
applications much easier, a range of
functionality can be used.
Drop downs, drag & drop, sliders etc.
are all appropriate functionalities that
can help the overall user experience.
You can add drop downs to group lists,
sliders to make it easier for users to
increase/decrease a value, drag and
drop images for an image application.
Functionality

8. Feedback based on the actions of users is very
important. If the wrong feedback is given then it may
result in the user responding in an incorrect manner.
It’s important to give users guidance on what they need
to do. For example, providing users with introduction
text or clear titles can help give them an understanding
of what is expected.
Form feedback is really important. It’s important to guide
users on what buttons are inactive/active. Also, give
users expectation on what needs to go in each fields.
This can help new users learn quickly to fill the form
easily and accurately.
Applications are self contained. At times users will be
interacting over multiple windows. Therefore it’s
important focus on particular window is highlighted. This
will allow users to easily focus on what they are doing
and be productive with less distractions.
On-screen Feedback

9. The call to actions need to be clear and obvious to
the users.
It is advisable to have an on-screen position for
these options to be displayed. It will make it
easier for users to know what the next action is.
Also, this will make the application more intuitive
to the user.
Calls To Action

10. Icons should be used to make it more
visually appealing.
Applications can have a lot of things going
on and rather than using text based
buttons, icons can be used instead.
Using icons can take up less on screen
space allowing you to add more options.
It can be hard to come up with
meaningful icons. It is advised that you
have text with the icon to make it easier
for the user to understand.
Iconography

11. Research
Oracle Applications: What you can do?

12. • Oracle is a well known as a database system.
• The application has it’s own development framework which allows the create of
complex applications.
• One of the main application development apps is called Oracle Fusion
Middleware.
• What is Oracle Fusion Middleware?
1. Collection of software, which include Java EE and development tools.
2. The tools offer complete support for development, deployment, and management.
3. It is integration solutions, to identity management, collaboration, and business intelligence
reporting.
Oracle Fusion Middleware

13. • Going through a number of cases studies produced by Oracle. It’s clear that
Oracle development framework allows you to create clever interactive systems.
• Here are a few points, which users can be created:
1. Web look & feel.
• Oracle development framework allows the creation of interfaces, which are very similar to web-based
applications.
• This means that users will be more accustomed to the interface and will not need a lot of training.
• Other application functionalities can be duplicated. For example, MS Excel table functionality has been
incorporated such as filter, sort, hide, reorder, etc.
2. Web functionality
• Using Oracle development framework, there is no limits on the type of functionality you incorporate.
• Oracle allows the creation of shopping baskets & invoice entry processes.
• This shows that complex functionality can be created whilst using Oracle development framework.
Oracle Application: What can you do?

14. 3. Customisable Items
• Customisable dashboards can be created. For example, a dashboard was created to allow users to
monitor and verify all in one page. The aim was to make sure users can do everything in a single area to
make life easier for them.
• In past projects involving Oracle development framework, role-based dashboard has been created.
These applications have set up to push information to the user rather than having them seek it.
4. Multi-functioning Areas
• Multi-functions have been successfully created. Work areas have been created to allow users to view
information instantly and make appropriate actions.
5. Integration
• Oracle development framework allows integration with other software. There have been successful
integration with MS Excel, which allow users to work with tables and databases.
Oracle Application: What can you do?

15. 6. Global Navigation
• Oracle development framework allows the creation of interactive and creative navigation.
• Applications have seen the creation of global navigation where users are able to easily access all areas
of the site.
• It’s essential that the navigation is really clear. In addition to the main navigation, other options such as
quick links can help users get around the application.
Oracle Application: What can you do?

16. Thank you!
Shean Malik
UX Architect
shean@zabisco.com