A big part of building any web site is project management. At 3D Metropolis/Design, we will handle
all of the project management details by laying out every aspect of the project in our design process. Having a
solid process in place for designing a web site is very important. It helps ensure the site is successful, and
finished on time and within the budget.
Our design process is flexible enough to meet the unique needs of each client, and stable enough to serve as a roadmap
for all of the major project phases and keep things running smoothly.
Here's a quick look at our generic design process, before adjusting for a specific project:
Planning/Information Architecture: This phase involves one or more meetings with the client to work out the goals,
scope, and target audience of the site. Content is planned and the site structure is formed. Research and
competitive analysis also happen in this phase; for more details, read information architecture. At the end of this phase all parts of
the site are mapped out and structured for maximum usability by the target audience.
Style Development: This is the visual development phase, which people most often associate with web design. First the
look of the site is developed, from graphics to type design. Starting with design sketches or image compositions,
the best look is refined and then an HTML mock-up is created from the refined design. Templates and style guides
are created; for more details, read style development. At the end
of this phase the design of the site is frozen and the project is ready for production.
Production/Testing: Final graphics, HTML, and programming all come together to form the working version of the site.
Content is put in place and templates and style guides are applied to give it the proper format. Then every part
of the site is tested in multiple browsing environments, and files are debugged until the highest level of
compatibility has been reached. At the end of this phase the site is ready for visitors and search engine
indexing.
Delivery: The site is launched. This involves listing it with search engines and directories, and any other site
promotion necessary, online or off. A completed design document, with full information architecture details,
templates, style guides, and more, is delivered to aid in any future maintenance and redesign efforts.
Maintenance: Optional site maintenance. Content can be updated and features upgraded as desired. Clients may enter into
an agreement for updates on regular intervals, or request site maintenance as needed. Clients may also update
their own content, we can help make the process easy.
