The GES Web Design Process
Pre-Production
Pre-production is the planning and discovery phase of the project where we get to know you and discuss your vision for your new website. We’ll determine the website’s features, design direction, content, and appropriate navigation and then decide the tools you’ll need to easily manage and maintain the site. This is also the perfect time to discuss additional features you’ll want or need in the future so that we can plan accordingly as the site is designed and built. It’s also helpful to provide examples of features and designs you like from existing websites.
At the end of this process, you’ll be asked to approve navigation and provide technical information, logos, photos and other content for the design of the site. In order to move on to the design phase, the following will need to be completed:
- Client agrees to do business and pays deposit.
- Gage creates an account on the server for the client.
- On a hidden page, Gage installs a Content Management System (CMS) for the new website.
- Pre-production meetings to go over content and features for new site.
- Client provides needed collateral for design and planning of website.
Design
This is where the look, feel, and functionality of the site are fleshed out. First, we present the initial design; then, we discuss revisions (there are always revisions to be made). Often, this is where clients start visualizing and understanding what we can really do for them. It’s not uncommon for clients to start adding features and changing functionality during this stage. It is the last and best chance to make changes and voice concerns. Once we start programming, changes and revisions are more difficult and costly. Two rounds of revisions are usually adequate and are included in this bid.
- Gage creates initial design and submits it for client approval.
- Revisions/refinements to design and functionality. (Two rounds included in bid)
- Client approves final design and we go into programming.
Programming
This is point when your website comes to life! We will cut the approved design and create the templates that build your site. Then, we start making the tools that make your site. This phase of the project is characterized by giant leaps of progress and long periods with no apparent movement, but this is normal. It often takes several days of programming and debugging to have something show up instantly. Once your website is at an acceptable level of completion, we will give you a login so you can test any custom built tools and add content to the site prior to going live.
- Gage integrates design into the CMS
- Custom programming of forms, features and management tools
- Content is added
- Client provides Criteria for search engines
- Gage alt tags website and includes proper meta data
Go Live!
Once the programming is complete, you’ll give your site a final run-through, and then we flip the switch and go live! Gage will handle the technical details, but you may need to provide log-ins to your old site to complete the conversion. This is also when we submit your new site to search engines for indexing.
- Client signs of on site
- Gage brings site live
- Gage submits site to search engines
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