Jewelry Television(R) Software Engineers Selected to Present Case Study at Chi 2008

The presentation will describe the merger of user centered design into agile (team) development practice as manifested in a one day design studio. Benefits and challenges to a design studio are discussed and the evolution of one design using the design studio process will be presented.

"The 2008 conference explores the balance of art and science in computer-user interfaces," said James Ungar, co-author of "Agile User Centered Design -- Enter the Design Studio -- A Case Study." The design studio approach that we have implemented at Jewelry Television is a good fit for the focus of the conference. The concept of a design studio is deeply rooted in traditional art and graphic design and is commonly used in boutique design shops and advertising agencies. It is a collaborative workshop where many designs, informed by user centered research, are critiqued and the best features merged to one design," explained Ungar.

The first time we tested a design studio approach we had only one volunteer," noted Jeffrey White, User Interface Engineer and co-author of the paper. "Now the entire department is involved. The design studio has become a critical component in bridging the domains of user centered design and agile software development in a way that benefits the practitioners of both. The rapidly changing needs of our multi-dimensional business model demands a collaborative environment. This presentation is a solid example of how the art of effective communication is paramount to developing effective software solutions," said White.

"Jewelry Television is a major electronic retailer and the cross categorical business processes required to operate the company efficiently are largely driven by Information Technology," said Wayne Lambert, Chief Information Officer. "Most of our systems are proprietary and require continuously evolving software solutions," he said. "I'm proud that our team explores creative ways to solve problems by seamlessly integrating communication between users and developers. The design studio is now considered a best practice within our organization," said Lambert.

About Jewelry Television(R)

Jewelry Television(R) is one of the nation's fastest-growing home shopping networks, focusing exclusively on the sale of fine jewelry and gemstones. The network airs live programming 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and is the 11th largest fine jewelry retailer inthe United States. Industry experts host Jewelry Television(R) programming, bringing rare, beautiful and affordable merchandise to people everywhere. The web site, www.jtv.com , is the 5th largest destination for fine jewelry on the Internet according to Internet Retailer. The company reported revenues of approximately $480 million in 2007.

About ACM

ACM, the Association for Computing Machinery http://www.acm.org , is an educational and scientific society uniting the world's computing educators, researchers and professionals to inspire dialogue, share resources and address the field's challenges. ACM strengthens the profession's collective voice through strong leadership, promotion of the highest standards, and recognition of technical excellence. ACM supports the professional growth of its members by providing opportunities for life-long learning, career development, and professional networking.

About SIGCHI

The ACM Special Interest Group on Computer-Human Interaction http://www.sigchi.org is the world's largest association of professionals in the research and practice of computer-human interaction. SIGCHI serves as a forum for ideas on how people communicate and interact with computer systems. This interdisciplinary group of computer scientists, software engineers, psychologists, interaction designers, graphic designers, sociologists, and anthropologists is committed to designing useful, usable technology which has the potential to transform individual lives. SIGCHI has more than 60 local chapters for HCI professionals across five continents, publishes the SIGCHI Bulletin quarterly, and co-sponsors conferences and workshops to advance the field of computer-human interaction.

SOURCE Jewelry Television

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