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  1. #1

    How do you design ?

    Hi,


    I have a question for all webmasters. How many steps do you take to put a complete website online ? If so, what are they ?

    For example:
    1) Buy a domain
    2) Create your template
    3)
    .....

    Thank you!

  2. #2
    If I would already know the name , I would register my domain and then:

    1.Brainstorm about the website , the product ,etc.

    2. Draw a sketch of the design I have in mind ,on paper or roughly in Photoshop or any other program.

    3. Start working on the design in Photoshop, step by step (usually I start making a header graphic, a menu and so on).

    4. Changing alot of small/big things untill it's almost perfect.

    5. Let it rest for some hours or for a day and then look at it again and notice there's so much more you can improve

    6. Rework some parts untill you are satisfied.

    7. Going from photoshop document to HTML , I do this manually, takes more time but you got full control then.

    8. Put the contents, align it all well, make some small changes if necessary.

    9. Ask feedback to different people to see if they see things that you didn't see when making/finishing the website.

    10.Upload it and test it in different browsers.

    11. Release it if all is fine, if not, fix things.

  3. #3
    I have my general idea and a note / sketch of my website aims / design then I purchase my domain, implement the design get some early feedback and make a few further alterations - upload, release and bug my mates to refer traffic .

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Feb 2005
    Location
    Northern VA
    Posts
    1,582
    a. Determine your website needs. Is this a personal website, a business website, will you be streaming media, etc. Capture your requirements before you proceed with choosing products so you can buy the products and services that best meet your needs.

    b. Choose a Site Concept. You should research your market, determine best keywords to use, what your site is going to say, and start mapping out content. You should not pick a domain name or start building pages until you've nailed down a solid concept. This is the most important step of getting a successful site online. Don't come up with the plan after you already are down the road a bit and have to make major course corrections.

    c. Choose a domain name. Use registrars and thesauras to research available name combinations. Keep it short, make it .com, make it memorable.

    d. Register you domain name. Choose a domain registrar to register your domain(s). You may want to purchase additional aliases or variations that will point to the same domain. Note that this step might be included for free with your Web Hosting company. Don't pay for a domain name if it comes with your web hosting package.

    e. Choose a Web Hosting company. Choose a web hosting company and a plan that meets your website requirements.

    f. Build your website. Using an HTML editor build your website content. Preview your page regularly using multiple browsers. You may also want to consider website templates or even professional web design depending on your needs.

    g. Upload your website. Using an FTP client, upload your website to your web server. Your site is now online and can be viewed on the Web.

    h. Promote your website. If you build it, they will not necessarily come. Learn about search engines, Pay Per Click networks, and how to make your site sell.
    Rich
    Husband, Father, Retired Marine, Geek

  5. #5
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Posts
    500
    1. Figure out what the site is about
    2. Draw a sketch on paper, keeping in mind things like ad placement
    3. Make the images in photoshop or paintshop pro
    4. Make the HTML template with the images
    5. If it's a dynamic site, I'd make the scripts now aswell.
    6. Test everything locally using different browsers
    7. Find some hosting & a domain
    8. Upload everything via FTP
    9. Link to it from various places and submit to search engines
    10. If I wanted to, I'd probably make some adverts and advertise now

  6. #6
    Simply and considering that I already have the website idea,

    1. I draw a sketch on paper and put all my ideas for this website on that paper. Like how menus appear, ads, logo, etc.

    2. I start coding the page leaving spaces for images and menus.

    3. Now its time to make the proper PSDs to fill up the spaces.

    4. Testing in a few browsers

    5. The usual step - get a domain and get a decent host then upload your ebsite.

    Only note though; If there's a developmen part involved I would test all scripts locally first depending on the ability to setup local server on your operating system.

  7. #7
    Join Date
    May 2004
    Location
    Pflugerville, TX
    Posts
    11,231
    Here's a copy of the typical design process I keep online for clients to reference:

    1. Brainstorm ideas, concepts, etc. with client.
    2. Begin generating content.
    3. Create wireframes of site pages.
    4. Diagram the site's general navigation structure.
    5. Determine and document site style, such as fonts, colors, visual themes, etc.
    6. Create visuals for final mock-ups.
    7. Generate templates, combining visuals and wireframes.
    8. Edit content into final draft form.
    9. Populate templates with final draft content.
    10. Perform testing procedures (this is ongoing, but at this point, final testing takes place before tweaking)
    - Code Validation
    - Search Engine Compatibility
    - ADA Compliance
    - Speed Check
    - Platform/Device/Browser Check
    - International Accessibility
    11. Tweak visuals, navigation structure and content based on testing.
    12. Content tweaking for maximum search engine exposure.
    13. Set up hosting, register domains (if necessary) and update DNS information.
    14. Launch site.
    15. Write style guides and other instructional materials to aid in the ongoing maintenance of the site, if client is self-maintaining.

    This is quite oversimplified, of course. For instance, testing of all types is ongoing - it happens in nearly every stage of a site's development. Support materials are drawn up through the course of the engagement and released after launch. The process changes depending on the needs of the client.
    Last edited by the_pm; 04-30-2005 at 04:35 PM.
    Studio1337___̴ı̴̴̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡ ̡͌l̡*̡̡ ̴̡ı̴̴̡ ̡̡͡|̲̲̲͡͡͡ ̲▫̲͡ ̲̲̲͡͡π̲̲͡͡ ̲̲͡▫̲̲͡͡ ̲|̡̡̡ ̡ ̴̡ı̴̡̡ ̡͌l̡̡̡̡.__Web Design

  8. #8
    Many thanks everyone for your tips. I did try to create my little homepage since fews months but ended up with something I don't want. Your tips are very userful as well as helpful

    cheers,

  9. #9
    I'm ok with all of the above except the actual design part. That to me is a nightmare even coming from a visual person like me (photographer). The idea of drawing something out on paper never occurred to me. I'm going to try that.

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Sep 2003
    Posts
    1,215
    1. I would research the type of site i'm designing, search google for other "hosting" sites for example.

    2. Plan out the requirements on paper first and map out rough ideas in my head. I always like to create their identity/logo first as it gives me something to work from.

    3. Design the navigational structure of the site on paper, work out what goes where, links etc.

    4. Mock ups in photoshop.

    5. Slice the psd, code into html.

    6. Fix any issues with the code, validate, cross browser compatible.

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Mar 2005
    Location
    Switzerland
    Posts
    153
    Very good answers. I can add:
    1. have a look at other sites, studying their layouts, codes, contents and think about your project. I'm not suggesting to steal, but to learn what can be done and how others solve design problems.
    2. find a graphic concept to present your company (logo or logotype)! Don't decorate, but think about your philosophy. Take Ferrari: their horse means agility, power, proud, speed and they did not use a car as a logo.
    3. Whatever you do, keep it compliant to W3C. Your website must work with IE, Firefox, Safari, Opera, etc.
    4. Create good contents that no one else offers.
    5. Texts should not be too long but straight to the point, split in chapters. Avoid full page, left to right texts like
    6. Structure your informations through visual packets (chapters, titles, bold, etc.)
    7. Do a smart use of colours, avoid strong ones!
    8. Let the user choose what to do: avoid pop ups, windows' auto resizes, midi music and blinking stuffs all over.
    9. Once you've a layout, keep it on all your pages!!!!

    Good luck!
    Michele Bugliaro Goggia, designer SUP in visual communication
    webmaster: www.ufopsi.com

  12. #12
    Pay a pro to do the work lol whitehillstudios.com did mine

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