Web Design

Step 1: Quote Request

The first step is to gather all of the details and specifications for your website to help determine the scope of work for the project. In many cases, this process starts with a face to face consultation or a conference call.

This is where our special relationship starts because in order to do our job effectively, we need to know as much as possible about your business and its future goals. We will take a look at a few examples of other websites that have the style, user experience, and functionality that you are looking for. We may also look at websites that you don’t like too.

Step 2: Project Evaluation

Communication is key. We can set up multiple face-to-face meetings and phone calls to make sure we have all of the details straight. We may scribble on a napkin or two as we answer all of your deepest, darkest web-related questions and hopefully get a feel for what it will be like to work together. At this point, we’ll have the information we need to start assembling our proposed recommendations and associated budget.

Step 3: Formal Scope of Work Contract

Once we decide our companies are a good fit for each other, we will draft a formal proposal for you to review. We don’t just slap your name in a proposal template and hope for the best. Most of the time, we can give you a hard quote based on our pre-discovery. We stick by our quotes and you’ll never have to worry about hourly fees or overages. However, things happens.

If something new or unforeseen comes up during the project that was not covered in the original scope, we will discuss how the budget and timeframe will change. We want you to know exactly what you’re paying for, how long it will take, and what it will cost. No one likes surprises—especially surprise costs. If everything looks good, we’ll assemble an agreement and Scope of Work for your signature, and send an accompanying invoice that must be paid before work commences.

Step 4: Planning, Design Research and Discovery

This is a crucial step in the web design project. Understanding your target audience, competitors, and goals is an extremely important starting point for any successful design project. During this phase, we work out a proper site map and flow, create mood boards, organize content and gather all the appropriate assets. This phase helps us understand the challenges and solutions we’ll provide with creative web design. Armed with this information, we can develop a website that works for you and your customers.

Step 5: Information Architecture and Wireframing

Before we start developing the website, we’ll be creating wireframes that outline the general layouts and components the designs should include. This can be a combination of sketches, whiteboard diagrams and/or wireframe prototypes. This process maps out expected elements and ensures that all of the most important information is in place and gives us a good guide on how the site will flow. Think of this as the blueprints or plans you need before building a house. Once completed, we’ll review these with you to refine for accuracy and use it as the basis for page elements as we design the layouts.

Step 6: Design Phase

Working closely with our project director, our lead designer will design the graphics and mock up a concept for your new website’s home page. All of this while keeping your industry, preferences, and target audience in mind. Our standard projects generally include multiple design concepts with revisions, as needed, to finalize the design. We then mock up any other key pages of the website’s design that require special layouts, including mobile responsive layouts, while ensuring the look and feel of all the site pages are consistent.

Step 7: HTML/CSS Produciton

Once the design concept is selected and approved by you, we will start on the development and production of the site. We code all of our websites using standards-based XHTML/CSS that is highly cross-browser compatible, fast loading, and search-engine-friendly. The site-ready text and images (content) that have been prepared will be added into each page of the website layout during this phase.

Step 8: Programing and Platform Implementation

Most of the websites we build are dynamic in some way, which require custom web programming for functionality. Upon your approval of the static XHTML/CSS site layout, we will begin the programming phase of the project.

This phase includes converting the site from static HTML/CSS, to a dynamic, database-driven website. We custom program any special functionality into your site, which often includes building a custom Content Management System (CMS) so the website can be quickly and easily updated by you or your staff. We will also configure, implement, and customize any third-party or open-source web software at this time. This software includes e-commerce shopping carts, blogs, booking systems, real estate IDX systems and other integrations.

Step 9: Final Review, Testing and Training

When all of the dynamic web development and programming has been completed, we will review and test the entire website. We will also provide training for any administration tools that your site may require. Finally, we’ll do a thorough audit and the finishing touches will be completed in preparation for launch.

Step 10: Project Launch

When everything has been tested and approved, your training has been completed, and the final balance of the project has been received, we will launch the new website and everyone celebrates—Ideally with a nice frosty beverage!

Once launched, we will be standing by to handle any requests, additions or enhancements for the life of your website, and will plan to check in with you regularly to make sure things stay up to date.