Activity diagrams are probably the most important UML diagrams for doing business modeling in software development, it is generally used to describe the flow of different activities and actions. These can be both sequential and in parallel. They describe the objects used, consumed or produced by an activity and the relationship between the different activities. [1]
Continue reading “Activity Diagram: The Flow of Activities and Actions of “MeetingOfMinds””
Our vision is to create a social network which encourages mutually beneficial networks for the research community. This will start from the earliest point of a researchers career, supporting them through the stages of post-graduate education, and then onto a career in professional research.
Designing a Social Network for Todays World
Our site will be preferred by our targeted user groups because it is perceived as highly trustworthy and useful to them.
As a type of matching site, it will support optimal stable student-supervisory matches, and as a social network it will also offer a number of other options/benefits to student and academic users.
The brand logo is the first thing that customers will think of when it comes to identifying brand. The logo represents as an identification badge, as a way to expand an enterprise’s name and as a mark of quality. Furthermore, if a logo is managed and created properly, it may result in generating competitive advantage and facilitate the task of formal corporate communications. The name of the company, logo, colour scheme and typeface are considered as the main components of corporate visual identity (CVI). Van Riel and Van den Ban pointed out the difference between the intrinsic properties of logos and extrinsic properties. Extrinsic properties are those creating from association with the organisation. It can be represented by an illustration of Nike which has powerful referential elements – they use the Swoosh standing for movement. The logo of Nike has low representativeness but high level in extrinsic value. Even though the power of extrinsic properties is high and the degree of realism in the design is contrary related to the ability to attribute additional meanings, only little studies examined whether abstract design or illustrative design is more suitable to particular companies.
Another point worth mentioning is logo colour due to its mnemonic quality in the areas of recall and recognition. Colour can play a significant role in informing information, generating lasting identity as well as advising imagery and symbolic value. According to research from WebPageFX a web design and marketing company, people judge about a product subconsciously in less than 90 seconds of viewing, and most of them base their assessment on colour alone. Moreover, nearly 85% of consumers refer colour as the primary reason when they buy products. In fact, 80% of consumers believe that brand recognition can be increased by colour.
(Fast Company, 2018)
Meeting of Minds logo uses blue as the main colour because blue can result in a calming effect for whoever sees it. Naturally, blue is typically associated with the sky and the coolness of the sea which has an impact on calming the sense and lower blood pressure. Some claim that blue may stimulate a feeling of security, trust and cleanliness. In terms of marketing, blue is frequently used in cooperate business because it is productive, non-invasive and can create a sense of trust and security in a brand. For Meeting of Minds, blue is the perfect colour not only for the logo but also for our site since we are concerned about user’s privacy and security.
Our logo is created and designed as a combination mark ( a pictorial mark with a word mark ) due to the amount of versatility that a combination mark offers, it is easy to catch the eyes of specific groups in which the service or product aimed. With a combination mark, the brand will be reinforced. Using a combination mark will allow people to associate the name of the brand together with the pictorial mark straightaway. Furthermore, this combination can generate a distinct image which makes logos are easier to trademark than using a pictorial one alone.
Ref:
Fast Company. (2018). What Your Logo’s Color Says About Your Company (Infographic). [online] Available at: https://www.fastcompany.com/3028378/what-your-logos-color-says-about-your-company-infographic [Accessed 1 Apr. 2018].
Morones, H. (2016). Do you know the 7 different types of logos?. [online] 99designs. Available at: https://99designs.co.uk/blog/tips-en-gb/types-of-logos/ [Accessed 2 May 2018].
Amasci Creative Limited. (n.d.). Professional Logo Design & Branding. [online] Available at: http://www.amasci.co.uk/services/logo-design-branding/ [Accessed 1 May 2018].
Hynes, N. (2008). Colour and meaning in corporate logos: An empirical study.
In this post we are introducing the designs of our web-based application MeetingOfMinds. We focused on reflecting the functionality of our platform while designing the mockups, hence, we kept the colors and layouts very simple.
Continue reading “Designing our web-based application: Mockups of MeetingOfMinds”
Business Model Canvas was first introduced by Alexander Osterwalder. It is a tool to help people understand a business model in a structured way. What business model canvas does is enable people to rapidly sketch out the key elements of the business as well as see how different perspective of business is interrelated.
This tool is not widespread only among start-ups, but it is getting more and more popular among SMEs and marketing experts as well.
The 9 Building Blocks of business model canvas
These blocks explain different components, players and functional correlation. The model demonstrates as a figure below.
Source : https://iammoulude.wordpress.com/2014/07/02/business-development-model-of-canvas-the-9-building-block-approach/
1. Customer Segment – The target customers that companies plan to offer value with services or products. The model may define small or large customer segments. A company needs to decide which segment to severe and which to ignore. Once a company made this decision, a business model can be circumspectly designed around an understanding of specific customer needs.
2. Value Proposition – This section is generated to describe how customer segment will value and differentiate the company from competitors.
3. Channels – The organisation deliver value proposition through communication, sales channels and distributions.
4. Customer Relationship – How do organisation plan to maintain strong relationships with customer segments.
5. Revenue Streams – There are two types of Revenue Streams that a business model can be involved: transaction revenue and recurring revenues. It illustrates how will revenues be brought from target customers by value proposition.
6. Key Resources – The assets required to run the operations of the company effectively.
7. Key Activities – The essential processes that make the business successful.
8. Key Partnership – Partnerships matter since some activities are outsourced and can be obtained through networking with people outside the organisation.
9. Cost Structure – All of the costs associated with a business.
Business Model Canvas of Meeting of Minds
