Would you rather your project be effective or efficient? Why not both? If you're using new tools but following 15-year-old processes, you're wasting time and money. In this popular talk, Jason Mark will share over a dozen best practices for structuring successful modern web projects: It?s a dash of waterfall project management, a cup of agile web development, and a pinch of lean manufacturing.

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GETTING
SHIT DONE
Deliverables, Timelines, and Predicting the Future!

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WHY YOUR PROJECT
SUCKS
Lack of Commitment
Wrong Team (Insecurity)
Bad Process
Fear

4. BRANDING
DESIGN
USABILITY
TECHNOLOGY

5. BRANDING
DESIGN
USABILITY
TECHNOLOGY

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SPREAD THE WORD
MY DREAM

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I love
my job.

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I love
chaos.

10. I do all the
work

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THREE ACTIONABLE IMPROVEMENTS
MY GOAL

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ENOUGH ABOUT ME
ABOUT YOU

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WHO DO YOU
REPRESENT?
Campus Web Team
High Traffic Page
Department
Vendor

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YOURSUPERPOWER?
Leadership
Logistics
Communication
Programming
Design
Other

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FAVORITE
THINGS?
Most fun?
Most successful?

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MIGHT HAVE MISSED

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Recap meetings
MIGHT HAVE MISSED

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Recap meetings
Endless design revisions
MIGHT HAVE MISSED

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Recap meetings
Endless design revisions
Staff changes
MIGHT HAVE MISSED

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Recap meetings
Endless design revisions
Staff changes
Change orders
MIGHT HAVE MISSED

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Recap meetings
Endless design revisions
Staff changes
Change orders
Removing features to go live
MIGHT HAVE MISSED

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Recap meetings
Endless design revisions
Staff changes
Change orders
Removing features to go live
60 page specs w/o critical info
MIGHT HAVE MISSED

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WE STOP WASTING TIME?
WHAT IF...

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25. jasonondesign.comadream. build. launch.
100homes
1week
1998 Houston
Home Builders Blitz

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SO WHY WOULD A WEB
PROJECT TAKE 6-12
MONTHS?

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Visual Design &
Written Voice
Programming
Monitor &
Improve
Setup
Communication
Sign-off
Setup
Communication
Go Live
Design
Revisions
Cut Out Waste

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Visual Design &
Written Voice
Programming
Monitor &
Improve
Setup
Communication
Sign-off
Setup
Communication
Go Live
Design
Revisions
Value Ad
Cut Out Waste

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Visual Design &
Written Voice
Programming
Monitor &
Improve
Design
Revisions
Value Ad
Cut Out Waste

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WHAT IF...
No recap meetings
Go live in a week, before the needs
change
It was ok to not know the details before
a project starts

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Picture!
photo: JimGradycreativecommons

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“Change is never painful.
The resistance to change is.”
Buddha
photo: EdwardDalmuldercreativecommons

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WHAT DOES IT LOOK LIKE?
ENOUGH CONTEXT

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5DAYSof
DISCOVERY & DESIGN

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5DAYSof
DISCOVERY & DESIGN
Direction, Research, and Testing

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5DAYSof
DISCOVERY & DESIGN
Direction, Research, and Testing
Design w/Multiple Rounds of Revisions

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5DAYSof
DISCOVERY & DESIGN
Direction, Research, and Testing
Design w/Multiple Rounds of Revisions
Sign-off (12 person committee)

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5DAYSof
DISCOVERY & DESIGN
Direction, Research, and Testing
Design w/Multiple Rounds of Revisions
Sign-off (12 person committee)
On-site photo-shoot

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5DAYSof
DISCOVERY & DESIGN
Direction, Research, and Testing
Design w/Multiple Rounds of Revisions
Sign-off (12 person committee)
On-site photo-shoot
Improved logo treatment BONUS

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5DAYSof
DEVELOPMENT

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5DAYSof
DEVELOPMENT
Templates programmed

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5DAYSof
DEVELOPMENT
Templates programmed
Key features built (e.g. events, slideshow)

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5DAYSof
DEVELOPMENT
Templates programmed
Key features built (e.g. events, slideshow)
Course catalog built SURPRISE

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5DAYSof
CONTENT

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5DAYSof
CONTENT
15 content editors trained

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5DAYSof
CONTENT
15 content editors trained
Top 100 pages added

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5DAYSof
CONTENT
15 content editors trained
Top 100 pages added
Sign-off on Navigation as 80% final

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5DAYSof
CONTENT
15 content editors trained
Top 100 pages added
Sign-off on Navigation as 80% final
Breakout sessions for 3 key departments

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5DAYSof
CONTENT
15 content editors trained
Top 100 pages added
Sign-off on Navigation as 80% final
Breakout sessions for 3 key departments
Workflow updated BONUS

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500 PAGES
25 CONTENT EDITORS
NO POLITICS
1 MONTH

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PLANING, PROCESS, PEOPLE.
HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?

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PROJECT MANAGEMENT
PLANNING & PROCESS

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MODEL
TIMELINE

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MODEL
TIMELINE

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MODEL
TIMELINE

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PROJECT
MANAGER

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PROJECT
MANAGER
Same work. Less time.

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PROJECT
MANAGER
Same work. Less time.
In control.

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PROJECT
MANAGER
Same work. Less time.
In control.
Assertive. Requires commitment.

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PROJECT
MANAGER
Same work. Less time.
In control.
Assertive. Requires commitment.
Flexible.

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PLANNING
AND PROCESS

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PLANNING
AND PROCESS
Roadmap (constant assessment)

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PLANNING
AND PROCESS
Roadmap (constant assessment)
Roles (internal & external)

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PROJECT
MANAGEMENT
REMOVING WASTE

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REMEMBER
WE FAIL BECAUSE OF
Ego/Fear Bad Process

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REMEMBER
WE FAIL BECAUSE OF
Ego/Fear
Unknown
Bad Process

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REMEMBER
WE FAIL BECAUSE OF
Ego/Fear
UnknownableUnknown
Bad Process

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REMEMBER
WE FAIL BECAUSE OF
Get Training
Get an Expert
Best Practices
Ego/Fear
UnknownableUnknown
Bad Process

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REMEMBER
WE FAIL BECAUSE OF
Get Training
Get an Expert
Best Practices
Ego/Fear
Test
Fail
Improve
UnknownableUnknown
Bad Process

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RIGHT TIME.
RIGHT PEOPLE

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CREATIVE
TEAM

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CREATIVE
TEAM
Flexible

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CREATIVE
TEAM
Flexible
Confident

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CREATIVE
TEAM
Flexible
Confident
Expert Designer/Writer

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CREATIVE
TEAM
Flexible
Confident
Expert Designer/Writer
Creativity on Demand

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DEVELOPMENT
TEAM

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DEVELOPMENT
TEAM
Flexible.

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DEVELOPMENT
TEAM
Flexible.
Enjoys helping.

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DEVELOPMENT
TEAM
Flexible.
Enjoys helping.
Prefers simple solutions.

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DEVELOPMENT
TEAM
Flexible.
Enjoys helping.
Prefers simple solutions.
Expert at tools used.

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DEVELOPMENT
TEAM
Flexible.
Enjoys helping.
Prefers simple solutions.
Expert at tools used.
Uses plugins/modules to get to 80% fast.

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So, is
everyone an
expert?

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BUT...
YES!

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EXPERTS
ASK QUESTIONS.
A sales people have answers.

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Do details and icons help conversions?
Which Test Won?

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No details = 11% more conversions.
Which Test Won?

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Which Test Won?
Which is more effective?

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Which Test Won?
40% increase in “add to cart” clicks

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Do images or text convert better in email?
Which Test Won?

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Do images or text convert better in email?
No Images
+200% click-throughs
+ 300% revenue no icons
Which Test Won?

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EXPERTS
ASK QUESTIONS.
A sales people have answers.

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SMART PEOPLE. FOCUSED.
YOU’RE SURROUNDED BY EXPERTS

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ON CAMPUS
EXPERTS

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ON CAMPUS
EXPERTS
Stakeholders

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ON CAMPUS
EXPERTS
Stakeholders
Core web team

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ON CAMPUS
EXPERTS
Stakeholders
Core web team
Perspective Liability to asset!

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ON CAMPUS
EXPERTS
Stakeholders
Core web team
Perspective Liability to asset!
Content team

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ON CAMPUS
EXPERTS
Stakeholders
Core web team
Perspective Liability to asset!
Content team
Design team

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IT’S NOT RUSHINGIT’S HAVING A PLAN & NOT WASTING TIME.
Setup Communication
Sign-off
Setup
Communication
Go Live

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REALISTIC EXPECTATIONS
WHAT’S POSSIBLE

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ONE MONTH

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One Month
‣ Full Website Redesign & Rebrand
‣ On-site Photo Shoot in NYC
‣ Client team trained on CMS
‣ Client team deployed 100 pages
RECRUITMENT
ONE MONTH

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In 2.5 months,
inquiries doubled.
In 6 months,
a 4-fold increase.
RECRUITMENT
ONE MONTH

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RECRUITMENT
ONE MONTH
Time Investment
‣ 11 gravity switch team members
‣ 1 core client member (40h)
‣ 3 client contributors (<20h each)
‣ 12 client perspective (<2h each)

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IN 2 WEEKS
4 Gravity Switch team members
4 Core client members (<10h each)
1 Super involved board
1 Writer (20h)

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IN 1 WEEK
2 Gravity Switch team members
2 Core client members (<10h each)
1 Writer (<15h)

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IT’S FUN AGAIN!
HELL YES!

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SOUNDS GOOD BUT...
GETTING STARTED

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RISKS?
WHAT ARE YOU
AFRAID OF?

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TOYOTA
Start small
Have a flexible plan
Share your success
Repeat

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HELP A COLLEGE DO IT RIGHT
MY DREAM

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WHAT DOES THAT LOOK LIKE
ENOUGH CONTEXT

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THREE
QUESTIONS

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THREE
QUESTIONS
What’s the worst that could happen?

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THREE
QUESTIONS
What’s the worst that could happen?
Where’s our biggest win?

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THREE
QUESTIONS
What’s the worst that could happen?
Where’s our biggest win?
Who’s first?

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SPEAKING OF
QUESTIONS

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SEE YOU AT DRUPALCON BARCELONA
THANK YOU