How to run a successful web-design project that meets the needs of the client and doesn't mean you have to rebuild it all from scratch three times over, this time with a bigger logo and in pink because the client's wife looked at it and decided she didn't like it. The concept is that it is easier to change things earlier down the chain rather than later, and allows specialists the control over their specialisms (so tech guys don't have to worry about getting the right shade of pink, and designers don't have to worry about if the content is generated yet).
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| 1 | Brief
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Meet the client, discuss their business objectives for the site. Business people are often woollly about this stuff, don't let them be - get answers. Do they need more traffic, do they need more conversions, do they need to present themselves in a new way to their investors. If you're dealing with the Marketing Department, try to ensure you also get to speak to people in HR and Sales. Marketing is one function that the website will serve, it is not the be-all and end-all of a website! The wider buy-in across an organisation, the longer running success the project will have.Similarly, don't expect a 'creative' to provide adequate technical information to the technical team, make sure everyone on the project team is represented and gets input on the brief.Write a written brief and get it signed off by the client, technical and creatives. |
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| 2 | Research
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Research the clients business domain. This should include competitors (not only direct competitors that supply 'alike' products, but those that compete for the same dollar, time or conceptual space) suppliers, search key phrases, industry magazines. Present the research and create a report based on these findings, get the client to sign off. |
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| 3 | Moodboard
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Put together indicitive imagery, illustration, typography, photography, colours and textures. Keep it light abstract and notes.Get the client to sign this off. |
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| 4 | Sitemap
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Draw up a simple map showing each 'page' and functionality. Based on keyword research, this will design-in search-engine optimisation from day one. A lot of people don't do this, and instead the architecture represents an internal view of the organisation rather than an external one - a sure recipe for failure. Get the client to sign off the sitemap. |
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| 5 | Wireframes
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For each page, draw up an indicative wireframe that shows what imagery will need to be drawn up, commissioned and what text will need to be written. Consider each pages SEO function and highlight the key phrases covered by that page, consider the flow of the document and where the expected funnel will lead them. Get the wireframes signed off. |
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| 6 | visual
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Using the wireframes and the moodboards, create a few example page layouts. Typically clients will want to see a home page and a content page. These should be final, polished, working and accurate. Get sign off from whoever is going to build the HTML templates, and the client. |
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| 7 | asset generation
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Create and optimise all the required assets, icons, fonts, animations, javascript code, flash movies. |
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| 8 | HTML / CSS /JS build
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Build the page templates in HTML / CSS / JS - make sure the code validates and everyone is happy. Get the client to sign off on the templates. |
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| 9 | Content Management
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Rip up the templates and put them into your favourite content management system. If you're not going to use a CMS, then just imagine that the person having to mark-up all the Word documents of content is a CMS. Show the client the working CMS, train their people to use it. Get them to sign off they are happy with it. |
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| 10 | Functional development
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get the technical guys to build any functionality using the templates and assets already designed, that way they won't have to re-invent the wheel or upset the SEO, design and usuability work already in place. Get sign off by the architect, designer and client of the functional. |
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| 11 | Content Development
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Using the sitemap and SEO insights from step 2, get a web-copywriter to write the words usign the CMS. They should know how to structure content and apply reasonable keywords. Now is a good time to get any content-specific imagery and photography done too, so long as the wireframes adequately describe what is needed. Make sure the site has enough content to go live. Launching a half-empty site is less than useless. Get the client to sign off on all the content, and... |
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| 12 | Publish
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Get 301 redirects from the old site-map to the new site-map, move from staging server to live, email all your friends and clients, tweet it, send out a press release, have a launch party. Don't launch on a weekend unless you want to pay overtime to whoevers going to bug-fix the last minute stuff. Sit back, relaxed with a job well done and a happy client. Oh and get the client to sign off. |
