Website Design & Development Process

To start the website design and development process the main purpose of the website needs to be identified. Then you can start to strategically plan the design from a users perspective, the websites overall look and feel and how to drive measurable results that relate to the websites purpose.

The following is a basic outline of the steps taken to design and build a website.

Design Brief / Website Consultation

You may already have a design brief completed that outlines the requirements of the website. If not a website design brief is needed as it will form the building blocks / direction for the website.

Website Strategy

A website strategy is something that is really implemented at every level. It morphs from the design brief and drives the desired outcomes and measurable results of a website.

Website Sitemap / Information Architecture

This identifies the relationship between pages needed for the website. It outlines the flow of the website. A sitemap is a visual graphic that allows to easily see where the pages of a website will be placed.

Wireframes

A website wireframe is a drawing that shows what content/functionality is required to go on a particular web page and will also influence the visual design of the page. A wireframe helps to start to visually map out how you wish to direct people around on the website as well as inform the web designer important key elements to the sites layout/ hierarchy  and functionality.

Wireframe created with Illustrator. It could be done pencil and paper too.

Web UX Design / Graphic Design

This covers the process in which the behaviour or how people are going to use the website. It includes the look and feel. The desired outcomes and measurable results from the website strategy is also implemented at this level.