Phase One: Set the Goals
Think it through yourself
Gather ideas, inspirations, etc.
Analyze / critique the current design (if there is one)
Get acquainted with the tools you will be using
Rough it out
Determine the user needs. Possibilities include:
Work with your "Core Group"
Work with your Web committee
Work with the previous webmaster
Do usability studies
Do a survey
Include questions in an annual survey
Review your log files
Combine the results of one and two
Define your audiences as concretely as you can
Expand your rough lists, etc., as needed
Get your Web Team in place
Webmaster
Art Editor / Designer/ Photographers
Writers
HTML Coders
Programmers
Copy Editors
Develop a schedule and review with "Core Group."
Phase Two: Blueprint the Structure
Create a sitemap
Decide the depth of the site structure
Sketch it out
Figure out consistent labels
Decide on naming conventions
Decide about archives
Decide about PDF
Decide about multimedia: audio, video, Flash
Decide on technical needs: databases, programming
Review your blueprint with core group
Phase Three: Design the Look and Feel
Create one or more visual templates (for the various site levels):
Sketch the basic layout / a.k.a.create a wireframe
Decide how the layout will be held together - frames, tables, layers, CSS
Decide on width and placement
Choose a color scheme
Choose a font set
Monitor total file size
Flesh these design templates out
Review the look with core group and adapt
Phase 4: Develop the Basic Coding
Turn visual templates into coded templates:
Create graphics files for templates
Do the HTML and scripting or programming (CGI, PHP, JavaScript, etc.) for templates
Use ALT tags for graphics.
Use META tags
Check templates against your Guidelines
Load templates to a "staging site" and review on all the most important platforms
Test using various validators
Double check with core group and adapt as needed
Phase 5: Publish the Site
Make sure the content has been delivered to you
Do graphics and mark up for all pages
Produce PDF files
Proofread
Test all pages and links
Upload (FTP) to the server
Test all pages again
Announce it in listserv email, newsletters, etc.
Register it with search engines
Set up a maintenance schedule
Create documentation for next webmaster
Circle back to gathering ideas
Zeldman's Top 10 Tips for Designers
Think about the audience first.
Minimize bandwidth.
Give each site a personal voice and a real point of view. The audience will connect with that.
Do what's actually needed. Don't do things simply because you can.
Be entertaining. Inducing boredom is not a plan for growth.
In most cases, use Web standards and test your work at http://validator.w3.org/ .
If you think you know all the answers, you're wrong.
If you're doing what you did last year, you're dead.
Test your site -- not just on multiple browsers and platforms, but on people. Your interface is rarely as transparent as you think. But don't be a slave to test results, either. Trust your instincts. Balance them against test results. Rinse, lather, repeat.
Get half the fee up front.
