First you need to know exactly what you want. Talk with your colleagues to determine the goals and content of what you want. Then talk with several individuals who represent companies that develop interactive media, and they may be willing to tell you what is and is not possible within your budget and time constraints. Usually you will develop a long-term relationship with the developer so they are willing to spend a little time helping you develop specifications. Internet and interactive media products frequently grow and improve with time, so frequently you are not choosing a vendor who will do one product and then disappear. Frequently consultants work with in-house people who learn how to maintain and improve initial products. The outside consultant eventually may no longer be necessary, but the relationship will usually last years or months rather than weeks.

How can you find a developer? The two best places to find talent in the Twin Cites are on the Interactive Pioneers' Job Net pages and in the GoldBook Guide to Interactive Multimedia, New Media, Online and Internet published by Prime Publications, Inc., 318 Groveland Ave., Minneapolis, MN 55403 (Voice: (612) 872-7700 FAX: (612) 872-0121 E-Mail: primepub@aol.com). Be sure that the company has been around long enough to have a significant track record.

Now that you have a short list of developers, how do you know which one might be best for you. Before anything else, you need to eliminate individuals, consultants and companies that are unable to actually do the kind of work you want. Look at their portfolio. If they do not have a website, a CD-ROM or interactive programs that they can show you in their portfolio, cross them off the list. You should be able to see and test their work, otherwise you may be buying smoke. Ideally the developer will have something very similar to what you want developed.

Find out if they are technically competent. Do they have adequate access to instructional designers, graphic designers, videographers, sound experts, illustrators, and other experts who can produce the product? Are they easy to work with? Beware of the individual or company who knows the technology well, but is not versed in all aspects of interactive media or is difficult to work with. A techie who can make the computer sing and dance might not know how to spell or may be color blind. S/he may be difficult to work with, make all decisions and when finished say "What you see is what you get". It is not too unusual to find a technically competent person who is inexperienced in doing business who is unwilling to listen at the front end or make changes to fit your needs as the project nears completion.

In any case, "by their fruits you will know them". Look at their work, verify that they actually did it, decide if you can work with them and make your hiring decision.

As this page grows, it will cover specific aspects of hiring interactive media specialists (e.g., pricing, copyright, work for hire, reliability, checking a company's references, and other topics).

If you have questions about hiring, or would like to make suggestions to improve this page, please contact me by phone (612-871-1757) or by e-mail.

Dr. Thomas Donahue at tdonahue@alearningsys.com

Copyright © Active Learning Systems, Inc., 1996