As web developers at a creative agency, we find ourselves
completing the same tasks for each of our web design projects. Creating a
detailed website design and development process can help make you complete your projects faster and make you more efficient. Not only can it keep you as the web designer on track
for the project, but you can also include your client into project making decisions
and help them understand their role in the project. All web developers and
designers work at their own speed and truly have their own work style. The best way to become successful is to create your own process that fits your style as a web designer.
A web development process is an outline of steps that need
to be taken from start to finish to complete a web design project. The process
divides and categorizes all of the work that needs to be completed step by
step. As web designers in Chicago we like using web development processes in
order to track the progression of each project.
Planning
As web developers in Chicago we believe that the planning
stage in any design project is the most important. Whatever is decided and
mapped out during the planning stage sets the stage for the rest of the
project. The planning stage involves the web designer and client having
contact on what needs to be done and when it should be done. When in the planning stage, be very
conscious of your client’s goals and target audience in order to create a
powerful tool for their business. While planning your project, document it all!
Gather all of your information into one consolidated document. Also be sure to
include a site map. Before making any move on a CMS or website, always create a
rough site map of what you plan on having on your website.
Design
The design
portion is probably the most fun part of the entire process. The main purpose of the design stage is to create a visual
representation of what the completion of your project will look like. Creating
mockup based designs can give you a great idea on what your website will look
like before even entering the development stage. Mockups are also a great way
to share information with your clients and gather their input as well.
Development
The
development stage involves the bulk of the work in a web design project. When
in the development stage be sure to keep all of your code organized and refer frequently to the original plans made in the first step. When
beginning the development stage, take a strategic approach and take it one step
at a time. If you are using a CMS like Wordpress, Joomla or Ruby on Rails now
is the time to implement the CMS and make customizations. The final step in the
development stage is filling your web design with content. Even the simplest
pages require tight typography and careful attention to detail. Ultimately your web design should be a clear representation of the
quality of your work, so be sure to test all of the links and pages that are
attached to the website before launching.
Launch
Once you believe the project is completed and the client has
approved of the site, it is now time to launch your website. The purpose of the
launch phase is to prepare your website for public viewing. It is time to
transfer your site and all files that go along with it to a live server. Once
it’s moved over, check it out on your computer, mobile device and make sure it
looks perfect.
As web designers in Chicago, we have a certain web design
process that we use on every single project. When creating your own process,
keep in mind your own personal work habits and set goals for yourself to help keep the project on time. The process will be different for each designer and will
vary based on each client and project. Develop a process that fits you, only
then will the process be truly useful.
Comment or questions on developing a creative process? Feel free to comment below or contact us.
