When it comes to designing a website, you do not really need state-of-the-art tools to make it successful. In fact, the leader in UX and UI, Adobe XD defines web design as “the process of conceptualizing, planning, and building web sites and web apps.
Web design encompasses many different skills and disciplines in the world of design. This also includes development, and website maintenance such as front-end design and development, graphic design, usability, and performance optimization.”
The series of steps is more straightforward than you thought it would be. While the requirements for each kind of website are different as they are being designed for a specific business, the actions you need to take to get there remains consistent.
The design process is not all about the visuals. Design process is also about the experience it will provide to the visitor. If you are a beginner in this field, you can check Website Design Articles to learn more about the designing process.
In this article, I have mentioned four simple steps that will help you design a successful website.
1. State the Goals
Before you begin working on the website design, you must have a creative brief that defines the goals of the project. Define the objectives of the website, including what problems it solves and what benefit it provides to the user. The target audience must be defined clearly, so you will know who will be using the end product. If there are competitors out there for the business already, then analyze their website, point out strengths and weaknesses, and shape your goals accordingly.
2. Strategy Planning
In website development, the scope of a project keeps fluctuating, which makes it difficult for a designer to set timelines. But a designer can plan the strategy by sorting out the programming language, wireframes, and content development.
Depending on the type of your website you are creating, you will have to choose between content management systems like WordPress or another advanced level framework. Wireframing is an important step that provides you a sketch of the site’s visual design and its contents arrangement, making it easier for you to work on the plan. Also, your content strategy must be developed, keeping the SEO needs in mind. Once these three things are in order, you will be able to create a realistic timeline for your project.
3. Designing and Development
The design of your website must align with the brand image. Whatever colors the brand is already using in its logos or merchandise should be prioritized. Being consistent throughout all the channels is an essential part of marketing, so make sure that the website looks like it belongs to this specific brand. Also, once the design is complete, the project goes into the hand of the developers who must code carefully, keeping both the strategy and design in mind.
4. Testing & Launching
One should never even think of launching a website without testing. It helps you ensure that when the user is navigating through your website, he is having a good experience and is facing no difficulties. All tests must be done, including usability, performance, functionality, security, and compatibility.
Once the website has cleared all the tests, you can proceed to launch the website without any delays. After launching both the local server and the live server must be managed wisely. And remember! Your job is not done after launching. You will have to monitor the site and maintain it consistently.
