Web Design and Development
The Design Process
Like almost anything, the process of designing for the Web can be relatively simple or highly structured and complex. The complexity of the process depends fully upon each customer's individual needs. A typical design process might include the following:
- Brainstorm ideas, concepts, etc. with customer.
- Begin generating content.
- Create wireframes of site pages.
- Diagram the site's general navigation structure.
- Determine and document site style, such as fonts, colors, visual themes, etc.
- Begin programming custom applications determined to be needed during initial conversations.
- Research and secure off-the-shelf applications for site integration, if necessary.
- Create visuals for final mock-ups.
- Generate templates, combining visuals and wireframes.
- Edit content into final draft form.
- Populate templates with final draft content.
- Test for accessibility.
- Tweak visuals, navigation structure and content based on testing.
- Integrate custom/packaged applications into finished site layout.
- Initial search engine optimization for maximum online exposure.
- Set up hosting, register domains (if necessary) and update DNS information.
- Launch site.
- Write style guides and other instructional materials to aid in the ongoing maintenance of the site, if client is self-maintaining.
