Winning and Managing Large-Scale Web Projects

Have you ever been overwhelmed by a large-scale web project?

The more complex a website is, the harder it is to scope, price, and project manage correctly. Web projects that may have started out being manageable can quickly morph into black holes of features added at the last minute, plugins that don’t work as anticipated, unforeseen technological issues, and quality assurance nightmares. How do you ensure you define web projects properly and have a system in place that helps you manage the inherent complexities?

This month, we’re talking to industry experts who handle large-scale web and app projects on a daily basis. Our panel discussion will center around how to scope website projects (especially if you’re not the technical lead), how to price the websites, and how to manage client expectations when they ask for new features or functionality changes.

Our panelists are:

Jaron Rubenstein, founder and president of Rubenstein Technology Group, which partners with creative firms to develop complex websites. Rubenstein Technology Group has worked with well-known companies such as Bloomberg, Vanity Fair, and Harvard University Graduate School of Design. Jaron has worked for Lockheed Martin and Reuters, has contributed to several books, and is the organizer of the NYC Web Design Meetup.

Anthony Tumbiolo, founder of design and development consultancy JAKT, studied at NYU Stern and has a technical background developing mobile and web applications. JAKT has worked on projects for high profile clients such as IDEO, Netflix, and Anheuser Busch.

Mike Kelly is the Director of User Experience for ad agency McGarryBowen, runs a teensy-weensy design and consulting practice, lectures at the Columbia Journalism School and the Pratt Institute, makes a mean Manhattan and is currently fantasizing about building the ultra-nerdy weather app that he REALLY wants. Career successes: sweeping mobile transformation of Nota Bene, a boutique travel brand; strategic development and prototyping of tablet periodicals with Microsoft; and a complete web redesign of Elle Magazine and consolidation across print and mobile.

Moderated by:

Heidi Trost is the founder and director of UX at HT Design Studio. HT Design Studio performs user research, usability studies, and designs and develops websites and apps.