Websites are being built on a daily basis. But with so many websites being designed, what are the creative insights and the basics that go into designing them? That is a tricky question because hundreds of websites mean different approaches to designing websites.
But fear not, because we have done the work and listed down 5 steps to designing a website. Here they are:
Designing a Website in 5 Steps
Step 1: Vision
For a website to succeed, its owner must always be involved in the design process. If all you want is a simple online presence, a one-page splash site might be all you need. However, given the wealth of marketing and branding opportunities at your disposal, you should consider going a step further.
Step 2: Brainstorm
Collaboration is essential when working with a web designer. In the brainstorming phase, you hold one or more meetings to explain your company and industry to your potential investors, and to explain your overall vision. You will get a slew of ideas from them about how to get closer to your goal.
Again, collaboration is essential when working with a company, but research is essential when creating your own website. Observe how your biggest rival is tackling their vision (be cautious, however…). It doesn’t matter how big a company is if they are not doing it right. Additionally, look into various tools, methods, and industry standards.
Step 3: Plan
Once you have discussed your ideas with a web designer (or done your own research), it is time to develop a strategy. This is the beginning of the design process. Drawing boards (or sketch pads) are used at Butler to write out our website development strategy. A website narrative, some initial copy (written content for each page), a site map, and a wire frame should be the result of proper planning.
Step 4: Design
If proper preparation is made ahead of time, designing should be a breeze. Wireframes were created in planning, and now they are ready to be fleshed out into a finished product. Do not spend too much time designing if there are no brand guides (basic design rules to follow for a specific brand) in place. To get started, all you need to do is select the colours you want to use in your design along with the type of fonts you prefer.
A website’s design does not necessitate coding. There are times when a website should be designed (at least the home page) in a graphic editing software like Photoshop before any coding or CMS development is even started. It is better to stay focused on the design and functionality of your website and user interface rather than getting sidetracked or disappointed by the progress.
Step 5: Develop
You are finally ready to start building your website now that your vision has been laid out and designed. All the bolts and nuts are now assembled in this final technical step. In most cases, if thorough planning and good design have been completed, the development phase should be relatively short.
Rounding Up
You will arrive at each step with a well-thought-out strategy if you follow this guide step by step. Taking a new step is influenced by the previous steps that preceded it. An emphasis on delivering useful and relevant content in an efficient manner drives the entire process. At the end, you have a creatively designed website.
