Crafting Tailored Websites

My Website Design Process Explained

Knowing in advance the website design process and timeline for a new project is a fair request from every client.

I am a process-driven, user-centered, and goal-oriented website designer, so I also like to settle rules and expectations.

If you need a new website, or to redesign your current website, you certainly want to:

• know examples from my previous work and understand my experience in designing websites

• understand how much the project will cost and what the pricing includes

• ear from my past clients about their experiences and satisfaction

• know how I work, the process from start to finish, and how long it will take to complete the project. This I will explain right away!

Why does a website design or redesign process matter?

A process is a series of steps taken to achieve a goal. Think of it like a recipe for baking a cake—you follow a sequence of instructions to get the desired result. If you just follow your feelings, sometimes you achieve good results, sometimes you don’t, unless you have a lot of experience, and in this case, you have your own inner process.

So, a process ensures consistent and high-quality results, increases efficiency, provides clarity, aids in problem-solving, holds everyone accountable, and makes the project duration easier to estimate. In short, having a process helps you stay organized and effective, leading to better outcomes.

A thoughtful website design or redesign process ensures your site is not only visually appealing but also functional, secure, and aligned with your business goals. This holistic approach leads to better engagement, user satisfaction, and ultimately, business success.

What are the steps of my website design process?

I follow a structured approach to website design, which I break down into 3 key phases:

• Phase 1: Pre-Game, is the initial stage of a project where booking, planning and preparation take place

• Phase 2: Development, is when the website is prototyped, designed, constructed and launched

• Phase 3: Post-Launch, is the part when the website’s success is monitored and, optionally, maintained by me.

Phase 1: Pre-Game

Before starting the project, we need to reach an agreement, book the starting date and collect all necessary information laying the groundwork for our project.

• Step 1: Contact

  We make our initial connection, through an email, message or form, and then have a consult call where we discuss your project needs, objectives, and vision. This conversation helps us determine if we’re a good fit for each other and sets the stage for our collaboration.

• Step 2: Agreement

  I provide a detailed proposal outlining the project scope, timeline, and cost. You review and approve the proposal, and we both sign it to formalize our collaboration. We then book the project start date and arrange the first payment (50% upfront) to secure your spot in my schedule.

• Step 3. Setup

  You receive a welcome document containing all the necessary information and instructions to get started. I set up the working environment and establish our communication channels. During this step, you will also provide all the content required for the website, such as text, images, and other media, and carefully describe your vision and scope for the website. If a previous website exists, you will also comment on its positive and negative aspects, and why you want to redesign it. This step ensures that we have everything ready to move smoothly into the development phase.

Phase 2: Development

This phase is where your website starts to come to life. Each of the following steps has its own objective, although they may naturally overlap and iterate.

• Step 4: Inception

  In the Inception step, we focus on establishing the fundamental concepts of your website. We create a mood board to capture the overall look and feel, select a color palette that aligns with your brand, and design a sitemap to ensure smooth navigation. This step ensures we have a cohesive vision before moving forward.

• Step 5: Elaboration

  During the Elaboration step, we bring the visual aspects of your website to life. This includes creating the homepage and other critical pages such as secondary pages, blogs, and forms. We also develop the mobile version and establish the full structure of the website. The goal is to finalize the visual elements and ensure the design aligns with your expectations and user needs.

• Step 6: Construction

  This is when the full development of the website takes place. I build the website’s pages, integrate content, program features, and conduct thorough testing to ensure everything functions smoothly. Iterations for small corrections and improvements are made. This step transforms the design concepts into a fully functional website.

• Step 7: Transition

  In the Transition step, we prepare for the website’s launch. This involves optimization for search engines (SEO), migration of the domain, and final testing. I also train you on how to manage and update your website. Once everything is ready, the final payment (remaining 50%) is due, the website is launched and the project is closed.

Phase 3: Post-Launch

The Post-Launch phase ensures your website continues to perform optimally and remains up-to-date.

• Step 8. Monitoring

  After your website goes live, I closely monitor its performance during the first 3 months, to ensure everything runs smoothly. This involves tracking key metrics such as website traffic, user engagement, and page load times. By analyzing this data, I can identify any potential issues or areas for improvement. This proactive approach helps maintain a high-quality user experience and ensures your website continues to meet your business goals.

• Step 9. Update

  The Update step is an optional but highly recommended service where I handle ongoing maintenance and updates for your website. Although you may easily update webpages with text or images, and post new content into your blogs, some other changes such as adding new pages or new functionalities may require a more expert approach. I also make any necessary adjustments based on performance monitoring, ensuring your website stays in peak condition and continues to effectively serve your audience. A maintenance hours package plan can be arranged to ensure ongoing improvements and updates.

How long does it take to design a website?

The Development phase, where the website is truly designed, typically takes about 2-3 weeks for a simple site with 4-6 pages, and 6-10 weeks for more complex projects. During this period, I work closely with you to ensure the website aligns with your vision and goals, incorporating feedback and making necessary adjustments. Your prompt feedback is essential to meet the schedule and expectations. However, since I focus on designing one website at a time, this phase may begin several weeks after booking. During this waiting period, which aligns with the Setup step, you’ll have time to provide all the necessary content.

Conclusion

Understanding the website design process and timeline is crucial for setting expectations and ensuring a successful collaboration. By following a structured process, I can deliver a website that meets your expectations and provides a good user experience. Whether you're looking to create a new website or redesign an existing one, my goal is to work closely with you to ensure every step is clear and that we are aligned in our vision and goals. Every site is unique and special. I take it as a personal endeavor.

If you have any questions or are ready to start your project, feel free to reach out. Thank you for considering my services.