Disciplines / web strategy & design

Phase 1 - Analyze

Understanding the client’s goals and key web audiences, guides the development of a successful web engagement. We listen carefully to their past and present challenges, business objectives, and organizational needs. We conduct a thorough audit, evaluating our client’s website and competitor websites; providing us with a distinct framework that addresses issues such as site structure, accessibility, usability, and function. The phase results in an articulated strategy, featuring best practices, benchmark examples, and social media recommendations (if applicable).

Phase 2- Structure Outline

Using the information gathered during the first phase, we begin to structure the actual website. Our skilled web architects organize content into a logical system based on subject relation and importance. Navigational hierarchies evolve, indicating the number of pages and paths required. Ultimately, a substructure is arranged into an explicit sitemap.

Phase 3 - Schematic Design

Designers use the sitemap as an outline for mapping user interactions. They anticipate how users will navigate the website, charting each page’s individual flows accordingly. User flow and interactions are translated into gray-scale diagrams (schematics), shaping the general layout of functions and features on each page. Schematics enable internal and external development teams to work simultaneously and efficiently during the following phases.

Phase 4 - Visual Design

During the visual design phase, brand identity fuses with schematic designs. Color palettes, typefaces, brandmarks, and graphic images are integrated into the preexisting layouts. The final look and feel of the website takes shape and our shared vision finally materializes.

Phase 5 - Production & Development

Building on standards compliant code, we translate our visual compositions into a live, working website. We choose the appropriate platform for the website and integrate quality assurance throughout all phases of production. Whether development is done internally or externally, we ensure that our compositions are implemented correctly and that everything appears and behaves according to plan.

Phase 6 - Management & Support

Part of our quality assurance initiative is to provide our clients with the necessary tools to independently manage and maintain their website. We demonstrate how to easily update content and graphics, create new pages, and track online activity.