Whether you are designing for small businesses or big corporations, you should adhere to the process of web design. Without this, you are most likely to reach the unsaid web design rules. The process also applies when developing applications for general use. A good website needs to be carefully planned and researched. This will give you a cutting edge over your competitors. The next question you should be asking yourself is; what is the process of web designing?
The web designing process could simply mean a well-planned method that consist of a logical plan, design and well documented procedures in the making of a website. If this process is adhered to, it can lead to the creation of professional and rich websites.
This enhances the career prospect of the web designer in the eyes of the client. Even if you are not employed and you are a freelance web designer, the same principle applies. The entire process has been divided into detailed and categorical steps that are meant to aid the designer in the creation of an outstanding website that is unique and rich in features. The steps are;
1. Careful planning
Planning is important in every career and web designing is no different. It is an essential ingredient that impacts heavily on the success of a web designer. Before you can fully amass yourself in the work of creating the website, you will need a mental picture of the outcome. For you to have this picture, you need to meticulously plan your work. Nothing should be left to chance during the planning process.
For starters, you will need to perform a requirement analysis of the users. This should be addressed to the client because there will be expenses incurred in the process of doing so. You should also stipulate the design basics so as to avoid any conflict that may arise in future. You should establish your targeted audience, which will also aid in the process of planning. Once you have taken all these factors into consideration, you should look for the materials required in order for you to do your work effectively. The materials include the framework, software and other physical resources.
2. Implementation of the design
This is the phase where the web designer begins the work of building the web pages and also adding the necessary elements required in order to finish the job. Linking of pages and the development of site structures also take place in this phase. Applications like Photoshop may come in handy at this stage because you need to create mock ups.
Once you receive the approval from the clients about the basics, you should complete XML and HTML coding required for the functionality of the website. This process is always time consuming because there is a lot of editing that should be done to make the product perfect in the eyes of the client.
3. Site development
You would have thought that you had completed the designing in the previous step but that was just the foundation. This phase is where server comes into perspective. It is also the phase where true web designers stand out. Interactive elements are added to the coding in order to spice it up.
A lot of analysis goes on at this stage. Web designers should also be vigilant when monitoring the content that is being loaded to the site to ensure that everything is running smoothly. There should be also code validation so as to eliminate any hiccups that may arise.
4. Testing
After a site has undergone all the processes, it is important that it undergoes testing before it is finally published. The codes should be re-checked and the designers should make sure that the links are correct and they are working. There should also be cross browser checking to see if there are any compatibility issues.
This is because there are still people who won’t let go of their old browsers. The database should also be inspected in any case the website is linked to it.
5. Publishing and after publishing
It should only take place when the testing has been thoroughly done. If everything is correct, then the website can go live. The website should be checked constantly to see if there are any slips that might have been made in the testing process. This is the place where improvements can be made and hence the need for a flexible website.
Conclusion
In order to maintain a successful website, there should be proper documentation of the whole web design process from the beginning to its ultimate end. This is easy, but thanks to word applications, which are easy to use and are readily available. There are also applications, which may further aid in documentation and a good example of such an application is Ms Visio. In order to succeed in the web development process, it is mandatory that you follow the above mentioned steps.
