Let’s make workflow simpler – more dynamic and efficient for designers, more transparent for the entire organization.
“Smart specs” refers to our approach to producing comps for more than five brands simultaneously, using a small design team. We defined the majority of the design spec using new, centralized style libraries, instead of relying on a loose set of individual comps on an obscure server. These standards and comp libraries served as a single place where the entire organization could access the latest specs in a browser. Publishing the comps and specs to this new extranet was simple for the design team, minimized low-level design production work, and gave us a faster turnaround on all projects.
Agent Desktop is a Flex application for telephone agents, built from the ground up using the Agile method. Agents used it to manage complex itineraries across numerous distribution systems. We watched and interviewed agents, then simplified complex displays with intuitive navigation, color coding, and interactions common to desktop applications.
The UX Design team blog and process reference fostered collaboration and captured key knowledge on many topics, from best practices to inspiration to process details. It served as a gallery of our best work and a searchable permanent record for inspirational material, significant design principles, and the business benefits of smart design.
Orbitz Worldwide · 2006-2008
Proof of concept, workflow research: Brian Hunt · Design: Andrew Day, Robert Goerke, Brian Hunt · Engineering: Robert Goerke (dynamic trackers), Brian Hunt (“smart comps”), Brian Leach (ADT), Andrew Day (blog), Brendan Gramer (blog)
Dynamic comps and asset trackers
Brian Hunt, our production manager, explored a workflow concept of HTML comps, made up of reusable layered PNG image components. Updating a component that appeared in 10 different places, and in three different brands, became far more efficient. Robert Goerke built a powerful PHP dynamic tracker interface, where anyone in the organization could view, sort, or comment on a long set of master comp files. Andrew Day created libraries of comprehensive site standards and interaction patterns – and unified the navigation and display of all these components to work in harmony.
Reusable components comprise this dynamic comp. Edits to a component propagate out to the many places it may appear.
Dynamic tracker for master comps, sortable by product/section, designer, date. The entire organization can use this self-service tool.
Each brand has a consistent hierarchy to the comprehensive site standards and pattern library. Comprehensive standards can define about three-quarters of a site’s specs.
Examples from comprehensive site standards
Matrix of categories of icons and their basis sizes
Detail of spacing and highlighting for a matrix display of prices
Details for cost-summary rail modules
Color palette categories, variables, usage
Merchandising elements, usage restrictions
Sequence and photo/video controls
Agent Desktop
Top of pageOrbitz telephone agents manage complex itineraries for multiple users, on multiple global distribution systems (GDS). Agents still needed to use the command-line “greenscreen” interface, but the new Flex app simplified multiple accounts and common tasks in hierarchical and task-specific navigation.
Agents can access four simultaneous itinerary views on multiple color-coded GDSes.
Typical actions used responsive modal overlays, reducing page churn.
UX design blog, process reference
Top of page
The UX team’s blog faced the entire organization and captured useful articles, designer dialogue, and visual inspiration.
The overview of the design process was oriented at on-ramping new employees. It defined process sequences, day to day responsibilities, collaborative stakeholder workshops, software best practices, HR information, interview questions, and more.