Part Two: Development

The Development Phase

Phase Three, the development phase, is all about taking your design ideas and developing them to a high standard in the finished product (outcome). 

Working through an Agile process, we break the outcome development into stages called SPRINTS. These are short 4 week development cycles where you try to complete a set amount of work. 

The three sprints are:

• Minimum Viable Product (MVP) - develop the basic elements and functionality. The MVP prioritizes getting a basic, functional product working quickly. It emphasises basic functionality over everything else. It is used to test basic functions and gather user feedback, to help you understand what users think of it.

• Minimum Marketable Product (MMP) - develop all elements, improved aesthetics, content, and functionality. The MMP should allow users to test and see the components and functions in your outcome, even if they don't look perfect. Still, keep it small, keep it simple. Then really listen to what people have to say about it!

• Minimum Awesome Product (MAP) - complete all elements, functionality, conventions, and aesthetics. This is the "best you can do" version, a finished version to share with the World. 

Watch this great video to understand the differences:

Development Plan

Components (also called elements) are the fundamental components that artists, designers, engineers, and creators use to build visual works. 

You've probably already thought about and researched some of these during your design stage. 

Now it's time to plan how you are going to develop all of these components through your three sprints.

Here's your task:

• Find the table in your workbook (part three)

• Identify the components that make up your project. 

• Think about what you will need to do to develop these components

• First decide what is most important to do in your first sprint (your Minimum Viable Product), to create the basic components and functionality. 

• Then think about what is important in the other two. By the third sprint this component should be complete. 

• Once you're happy add these  to your Trello boards as individual cards. 

• It's SOOOOO important to remember though that your plan may change after you complete your MVP. That's the whole point of Sprints - your testing and trialling will discover things you might not have thought about. 

I've created a few examples to help you understand this approach - see below.

Tools and techniques

Using the right tools and techniques is a critical part of your project. 

Digital tools  are considered "programs, websites, applications, and other internet and computerized resources that facilitate, enhance and execute digital processes and overall digitization efforts". In other words they are what we use to create a digital outcome. 

Digital techniques are the many different ways that we use those tools, in other words how we use the tools to create a digital outcome. 

So for example:

The tool I will use: 

• Photoshop - which is good for single raster images- to give it the photo-realistic appearance

The techniques I will use:

• Applying a metallic effect

• Using layer masks

• Adjusting colours

• Using brushes to create a cloud effect

• Applying filters

• Modifying an image with blur, soften, and clone stamp

Advanced (L2) and Complex (L3) tools

There are a huge range of tools and techniques that you could use so it's important to identify and use those that are right for your project. 

It is also important that you use the right tools and techniques complexity for your NCEA Level - using Tools and Techniques is part of the standard that you are working towards. 

You will find some examples of tools and techniques for the different types of projects in the NCEA Ako section.