You need a website if you run a business. But given that you're reading an article on how to make one, I'm going to assume you already know that. You're beginning to see that while browsing the internet is a fairly simple process, designing, developing, and establishing a website are incredibly challenging. It needs to look good. It should be simple to use. You want it to be searchable on Google. If your business wants it to really work to bring in customers for you... But how do you go about doing that? What's more, how do you do it correctly?
The Web Design Process:
Theweb design process can be broadly broken down into four distinct stages:
-Discovery and strategy
-Information architecture and user experience design
-Visual design
-Front-end development.
At a high level, that’s the web design process. But, of course, there are a lot of steps within each stage. Let’s take a more detailed look at what goes into each stage of the web design process:
Stage One: Discovery and Strategy
This is where we get to know you, your business, and your goals for the project. We’ll also do some competitor research and perform an audit of your current website (if you have one). This helps us understand where you’re starting from and what opportunities exist to improve your website.
Stage Two: Information Architecture and User Experience Design
This stage is all about taking the goals we defined in stage one and turning them into an effective website design. We do this by first creating a sitemap, which is basically a blueprint of your website. This helps us determine the hierarchy and navigation of your site. Once the sitemap is approved, we move on to wireframing. Wireframes are low-fidelity designs that show the placement of content and functionality on each page. These help us further define the user experience of your website.
Stage Three: Visual Design
In this stage, we take the approved wireframes from stage two and turn them into high-fidelity designs. This is where we add color, imagery, typography, and branding to the website. The goal here is to create a visually appealing design that reflects your brand and accurately represents the user experience defined in stage two.
Stage Four: Front-End Development
This is where we take the approved visual designs from stage three and turn them into a functioning website. We do this by writing code (HTML, CSS, and JavaScript) that tells browsers how to display the content and functionality of each page. Once the site is built, we test it across different browsers and devices to make sure it works properly.
Now that you know what goes into each stage of the web design process, you’re probably wondering how long it all takes. The answer is... it depends. A simple website can usually be designed and developed in as little as two to three months. However, a more complex website can take four to six months or even longer. And of course, there are always factors that can impact the timeline, like scope, budget constraints, etc.
But now that you understand the basics of the web design process, you’re one step closer to getting your business online! If you have any questions about the web design process or want to chat about your next project, feel free to reach out to us. We’d love to help you achieve your goals!
What's Next?
Now that you understand the web design process, you may be wondering how to choose the right web designer for your project. Book a call with us today to learn more about how we can help youtransform your online presence.