Web Design Basics

Web Design Basics

Web Design Basics discusses some basic rules when planning, implementing and publishing a website. We divide the content into various phases which lead to the final result, a content rich user-friendly website with attractive looks.

In practice we experience that web master start from the wrong end, by initiating the process based on a graphic design idea or a feature seen somewhere else. Web Design is a process by which a concept is translated into an interface browsers or feed readers can interpret.

I will not go into all the details about the planning phase and organization of the web team in charge of elaborating a site as most readers here are one man or women shows. But we will recommend a plan of action which can be followed and implemented by anyone, the purpose being that you don’t lose your time and energy due to an inappropriate sequence of action.

Web Design is part of the web development process and needs therefore to be embedded in the more global context of Web Development.

So, for the time being, forget your HTML editor and Photoshop and start  … the right way.

1. Purpose, Goal, Target

The number one most important element when initiating the process of creating a website is the planning phase and namely the definition of

- the Purpose of the Site

- the Goals

- the Target Assessment

Without a clear mission statement your project risks to drift off focus, fall short or reach beyond the defined goals. When working for a customer, the planning phase is crucial to work efficiently and without looping on ever returning basic questions which may not have been defined or taken into consideration in the planning phase.

Purpose and Goals are discussed with the development team; if you are a one man show, then make sure you write down your goals and purpose as if you had to communicate with a team. Document every step you are going through all the way through the process of your site creation.

2. The Project Charter Document

This is the most crucial document resulting from your planning phase. You define what you want to do and why and how you intent to reach your goals and how you will measure progress and performance. The Project charter defines the technology and content needed, the time frame and budget.

The Project Charter is the blueprint for your development as well as the touchstone you will use to keep the process in line with the agreed goals and result to be delivered to your customer. Focus creep is your biggest enemy during the elaboration of your website, meaning that when you are busy with all the details you may lose focus and get lost on side-tracks which most often entail failure of the project.

If ever someone hires you for a site project, never, never skip the two above steps. Spend as much time on them as needed, but once the charter in place, don’t change it and deliver what has been agreed upon. That’s what your customer pays you for. If the customer desires to change things there after, look for a corresponding new budget.

Author: Yorgo Nestoridis, Media Marketing & Publishing, Founder of YORGOO Publishing, YORGOO Press and Semiomantics. If you enjoyed reading the above, please consider following future tips and strategies by RSS reader, Email delivery, or Kindle subscription.

This page is wiki editable click here to edit this page.

More about this Topic

• 3D Photoshop Exercise
• Flash Components by Semiomantics
• Digital Photography Ycademy 10
• Digital Photography Ycademy 9
• Digital Photography Ycademy 7