Website Design Method

How do I get the clients website concept,ideas and goals into a format suitable for an actual implementation? Well, the method used can simply be described as an iterative process. By following the steps listed below my clients and I can reach a high standard web site implementation, which meets it's original specification and which is fit for its intended purpose. Here is a brief outline of the steps used:

(1) I encourage a client to fill out an industry standard site definition question sheet. The questions within this sheet are geared to helping us define the exact overall aims of your web interface or portal. From the information provided at this stage I am able to map your site requirements in the form of a site specification document. Please take a moment to register to view my implementation policy questionnaire in .PDF format.

(2) Obviously, as well as capturing your needs via the definition document, I will discuss the finer detail of your needs and preferences with you directly. By asking a client to specify any preferences they may have, I am attempting to move forward in determining the look and feel for a particular web site. For instance you may have a preferred colour scheme, a typeface or set of photographs you wish to use within the site. If this is the case I can include these in my site sketches. It may be that you have no preferences or pre conceived ideas for the site. In this case I will provide some broader site patterns from which you can narrow down what you feel is right for your company or personal pages. During these early stages (when site sketches are being used) I will always provide feedback on the many web site specific enhancements from which you may care to choose.

(3) As development progresses I will use these agreed initial ideas and strengthen them (using further sketches, wireframe models and mock-ups) into actual prototype web pages. At this stage the pages will have limited functionality but they will help the client to visualise the finished product. This is also a good time to re-assess the page and site layout. I can apply your suggested changes easily using graphical representations
of real page components (to be added at the coding stage).

(4) You have many choices when it comes to the coding behind your web site. I can advise on the options available (based on my personal coding skills of course) but generally will choose the most suitable language and site model for your needs. For any back office or database attached to your site I would need to carry out further analysis of (say) your product range or library
files and convert the findings into a suitable database schema and implementation.

(5) On carrying out the initial coding of your website trial you would then be able to login here to review your personal web site development as it progresses. Finally, by acting on your comments from these reviews, I am able to refine the site until such a point as it meets your original plans and aims as detailed in step 1. above. After working through the loop above (several times if necessary) the project will have much firmer goals than when it was conceived and should in fact begin to yield the required site for you.

So, in this way the resulting pages of a new site move closer and closer to a finished product. When the iterative process is complete (and the client is satisfied with the layout and content) then the site will be uploaded and 'go live'.

All of the above processes are used to produce a unique and original website. Such a site (if promoted correctly and carefully) will certainly help you enhance the profile of your business or organisation in terms of marketing (but as you're reading this I expect you know that already). The issues of: search engine optimisation, web site submission to search engines, keyword optimisation and the use of META DATA, are, in themselves, vast subject areas which I wont be covering in this short (and informal) article. You can be assured that I would (should your choose a site development from circlewebs) carry out continuous web promotions for your site via the 'free' online services available.

You may pay (if you wish) considerable fees to submit your site to dedicated services directories and thereby (hopefully) improve your site ranking. For medium to large businesses this may indeed be a wise investment.
However, I clearly would not recommend this for your personal site or small business as the costs a likely to outweigh the benefits.

On with the Design Method Description...

The steps below provide an overview of the whole process of web concept through development to solution. Whilst this is an over simplification of the process it should give you an idea of the tasks ahead.

Web Design Steps:-
Working together to define the site you want.

I work with you to define what the focus of your new website will be. From the outset a strong website theme should be adopted and adhered to.

* Together we then list any special and/or specific features you may require in the website. These may be an e-commerce payment system, Video/sound facilities or special animated graphics.

* I will then create a list of sections for your website and give them a hierarchy of importance (based on your instructions). The trusty pencil and paper are handy for this process.

* Writing out of your initial content and finalizing it as best you can comes next. (this draft copy is likely to need modification as the implementation continues).

* Finding a style that meets the requirements of your industry or which is appealing to you personally (whichever applies), comes next.

* I will then conceptualise with drawings the website wireframes and mock-ups.

* Together we can then assess and select the mock-up that most fits the original requirements.

* Further refinement is required at this point.

* Evaluate the final website (design and mock-up only at this stage)and make the required changes / updates.

* Think about the functionality of the whole site and how the pages fit together (iron out faults before implementation).

* I will then build the site (a whole separate process beyond the scope of this short article).

* And that's it for the site design! Not a simple process I think you'll agree. To achieve the best possible site design a lot of advanced thought and planning needs to be applied (and) well in advance
of starting to implement the pages (let alone hosting them).

And now, for those who want a little more detail I will elaborate on the above points in the following paragraphs.

1. Theme

The overall theme should be defined clearly before any other step is taken. You need to decide what the main purpose of the website is - what you want to focus on in terms of a subject or subjects. If there are several subjects then these should still be wrapped around an overall theme.
The theme further impacts on your keywords, which are used by the search engines to classify your site and its contents. Thus it's important that you define this step as clearly as possible because a website focus has a major impact on the whole project. It is the foundation of the site. For example you may want to establish:
* An online store or service.
* A personal homepage (with a blog and/or sections for your hobbies and interests).
* An Information hub for established clients or an exclusive club.
* A Branding website for a product or an entertainment resource.

2. Scope and Features

This builds off of the first step. By scope of the site we mean the consideration of who the site is geared towards,whether it is a shopper for electronic goods or a member of an exclusive online forum. By identifying the 'end user' we can the look at actual features which can accommodate the users needs. For example:

* A shopping cart for an online store where secure transactions are carried out.

* A photo gallery which is easily updated with text and photographs.

* A password protected section of the website where members can login.

* A guest Book and/or a chat room.

* A dedicated database to support any/all of the above features.

3. Structure

With the first two steps completed, we're ready to actually start mapping out the major sections of the
website - defining the Site structure and the Site map. By sketching diagrams of the proposed website we can see how the component parts will interact visually and functionally. For instance, a diagram can easily show the hierarchy of a website and how the various sections cascade below one another. Using a reference chart such as this will help us to conceptualise the information needs of the different areas at a glance.

4. Content

All website's are driven by content; The content makes a site effective. The content should be accurate and up to date for a site to be successful. Further the regular update and addition of content is a must if the site is going to grow on the www. Clearly we need to pay close attention to all the facets of what make up our web pages; for today and for the future. For many sites the past content can also form a part of what is considered
'good resource'. So 'Content' should be dealt with early so that important subjects are not overlooked. Both your textual and photographic content are important considerations as it relates to your service or product. Equally important (though not strictly relevant to this section) are your colour scheme, your graphic artwork and font choices. These can have critical implications on the sites effectiveness and impact and in real terms can mean whether a user re-visits your site or not.

5. Style

Finally in the design phase we have'Style'. As the decision process (and information gathering) are completed the considerations of 'look and feel' come to the fore. At this stage of the process a general option which is open to us is to search the world wide web and look for sites which are found appealing. We can then 'take' the best ideas from what we consider to be well styled sites (obviously these are very subjective decisions) and combine them to produce a result that meets or at least begins to meet our expectations. As you can imagine this process is not as easy as it sounds... but in looking at the visual aspects of 'real site' designs you can begin to widen your options for choice at the outset. Clearly the more options you keep open the better as there is more to choose from when finalising the finished style.

6. Mock-up and Build

Mock-ups can be put together relatively easily since they do not always need to have underlying functionality. Whether you have strong ideas on your web site requirements or whether you are open to suggestions; either way you'll find the process of defining a site much easier when someone is producing the artwork or coding the pages for you. After all that's why you may have employed a designer in the first place. This will free you up to concentrate of the overall look, feel and sound you want (or Just to go and do your day job and let someone (such as myself) get on with it).

At the very start of your website journey however you may wish to take pencil to paper and just sketch a site layout or two. It is not good strategy to just head for the computer. Who was it that said 'planning saves time'.

7. Review, Revise and Rebuild

All finished projects will require review and revision whether these are in the first week after launch or many years after. We are referring to the former case here. Mistakes and oversights will creep in to the design and build stages of the website definition. Revisions will filter out the mistakes and enable the site to function
correctly (and hopefully keep the potential customer or reader interested).

Should you allow me to build your mock-up website, you would be able to login to a protected area of the .com website and view the progress of the work as it takes shape. When nearing completion you could test it out and above all assess it for errors and possible improvements which might be applied. Also you might want to get friends and family to assess a site I'm building for you, and to give you feedback which you can then (if you wish) pass back to me.

Finally, at the risk of stating the obvious here are a few of the things you should be looking for:

* An uncluttered visual interface in which the navigational components (buttons, links, breadcrumb trail) stand out.

* Good usability in the design - and all that implies (for instance repeatable head banners and optimised source code)

* Fast loading pages (i.e. free of large graphics and/or perhaps implemented using 'server side' technologies).

* Intelligent use of technology - Javascript and Flash can produce spectacular effects but should be used in moderation within the overall site content. (for instance: Full 'Flash' sites can restrict the number of users reaching your content) Unless of course the whole
site is 'just for fun' in which case the sky's the limit.

* Getting the site messages across as simply as possible.

The above list is not exhaustive and in fact would probably run into hundreds of bullet points..... A good place to start if you have the time and the interest would be to read the World wide web consortium Web Content Accessibility Guidelines 1.0