Web Design 101: The web design process

The web design process usually begins with a consultation between the web design company and the client. This can be a meeting in person or can be over the phone. The purpose of the consultation is for the designer and the client be be able to agree on what the project will include and what the client is specifically looking for. The designer will ask for examples of what the look and feel of the site should be like, as well as what specific functions the web site will perform. The client will also be asked for any company logos or other artwork that they will provide for the site. The consultation is usually when a price is decided upon and a contract is signed between the parties.

After the specifics of the job are agreed upon, the designer begins working on a prototype of the design. This part of the process is usually done in a graphic design application such as Adobe Photoshop. The purpose of the prototype is to get an idea of what the web site should look like before the actual coding to HTML begins. Many of the elements of the photoshop file may be eventually sliced into smaller images and optimized for use in the web site.

Once the prototype has been approved by the client the designer begins coding the web site into HTML(Hypertext Markup Language). This is probably the most complicated part of the process, since any images included in the design must be sliced and optimized to the smallest file size possible, and positioned in the web page using HTML and CSS. After the basic layout has been coded, the designer will add any scripts that are required to control forms or dynamic content. Throughout the design process, the designer will load the web site up to a special URL for testing purposes. In most cases, the client will have access to this testing server so the design process can be approved as major changes are made.

When the web site is completed, the designer will perform numerous tests in order to be sure the site is ready to be made public. All links on the site need to be tested to be sure that they bring the user to the right place and provide the user with ease of navigation. Any scripts included in the site need to be thoroughly tested be be sure there are no bugs. The web site will also have to be tested on a number of web browsers be be sure it looks and functions consistently on all major platforms. Once the site has been completely tested it is ready to go live.

The final step of the process is to upload the web site to the web server that will host the site. The designer will transfer the files that make up the web site to the server that hosts the clients site using FTP (File Transfer Protocol). Once all of the files that make up the web site have been loaded, the web site is live and anyone on the web can view and enjoy the site.