SharePoint: A Picture is Worth a Thousand Words

The old proverb is attributed to a number of sources, each alluding to the fact that, more often than not, an image will more effectively convey an idea than even the most eloquent of prose. Technical architecture and design is a subject matter that proves the proverb true, time after time. In particular because, as consultants, our jobs require presenting these concepts to an audience that may not share the same level of expertise and deep understanding of technology as we.

Consultants are paid for the depth of our expertise and knowledge, and our writing reflects this. As an expert, we seek to express our depth of knowledge with every sentence.   This desire to express our knowledge and experience can sometimes cause less experienced audiences to disengage. Their disengagement marks a failure in our delivery and thereby causes our project to suffer because we failed to capture their attention. Imagery is a valuable tool to facilitate the absorption of large amounts of information.

In the realm of SharePoint, there are two areas which I have found to be extremely dry and can pose a daunting task for non-technical project team members; site layout and taxonomy design.

For the experienced SharePoint designer, cascading style sheets, master pages and site templates are every day. For the every-day user, one technique I have found extremely helpful is “wire framing”. Wireframes are a visual guide to demonstrate the basic layout of the site interface, including headings, menus, buttons, web part location, formatting and branding. They provide a visual reference for the end user, as well as assist in setting expectations and creating a familiarity with design prior to start of development.   

Two great tools I have found to facilitate these discussions and create wireframes are:

Balsamiq Mockups – Provides a quick way to create mockups and layouts. Designs are intended to have a “back of a napkin” look. Cost < $100 per user.

http://www.balsamiq.com/

Axure RP Pro – Provides professional, polished site layout and design prototypes. Cost is approximately $550 per user.

http://www.axure.com/

Similarly, SharePoint architects are familiar with vocabulary such as taxonomy, site columns and content types. For the every-day user, trying to untangle the web of parent-child content type inheritance and required vs. non required columns can be daunting. A “mind map” is a diagram used to represent linear concepts in a three dimensional fashion.

Two great tools I have found to facilitate development of mind maps for SharePoint taxonomies are:

Free Mind – Provides a free, basic tool for generating hierarchical mind maps to illustrate relationships between items. Cost is free.

http://freemind.sourceforge.net/

Mindjet MindManager – Provides a professional tool to generate flexible mind maps quickly. Cost is approximately $350 per user.

http://www.mindjet.com/

The above tools are not a replacement for fundamentally sound design and architecture, but they will help you facilitate discussions that are a requirement for project success. At C/D/H, we are passionate about SharePoint. Talk your C/D/H consultant today and find out how we can help make your MOSS project a success.