Perhaps the best way to get started is to first go over our design process. This can be broken down into 5 consequetive steps, and they are as follows:
1. Design Selection (client)
2. Submission of Source Materials (client)
3. Prototype Design
4. Prototype Approval (client)
5. Prototype Implementation
"(client)" indicates that these steps are the responsibility of the client.
Immediately recognizable is the fact that the start of the project depends on the client. Our goal is to provide you with a unique web presence that reflects your particular needs. Therefore, we need to know a bit about what your needs and tastes are. This is accomplished through the design selection process (step 1).
Once you have made a design selection, you must submit the necessary source materials (images, logos, seals, etc) so that we can start the project. To indicate this is step 2 may be a bit misleading, as you should certainly take your source materials into consideration when making your selection. For example, if you really like the look of panoramic images in the banner, you must then ask yourself the following questions:
Do you have images that we could work with?
Or does this require you going out and taking some photographs?
Do you have access to a suitable camera to do so?
It's rather easy to decide what you want, however, you really need to take into consideration whether what you want is possible given the materials you have. We can certainly help you in this process, and make recommendations based on the materials you have.
As soon as we have a design selection, and the source materials to work with, the site will be ready to be designed. Typically, this will take 2-3 weeks. Once we have the design complete, we will send the prototype to you via an email message (the one that you provide in the design selection form) as a flat .jpg image. This will not be a functioning site, but a snapshot of what the site will look like.
Once you have the design, take your time and determine if any changes are needed. Appropriate changes at this time should reflect the design of the site (the colors, fonts, layout, etc). Any changes to content (names of buttons, address or phone numbers in the footer, etc) can be made at a later date. The purpose of this step is to give you the opportunity to tell us what you think, and if any changes need to be made to get your "go-ahead" to proceed to the next step. Once we have your approval, we cannot go back and make any major design changes without additional charges.
The final step in the design process is the prototype implementation. This is where we take that flat .jpg image and turn it into a working prototype site. We will build out the prototype on our server, and will not be "live" to the public during the development phase.
Now that you know the process and the expectations, let's get started with the design selection! The links listed below provide additional information about each of the elements that encompass the design selection request.
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