Company
Development Process
Web site design has traditionally been an ambiguous process that often results in developers straying away from the original design as envisioned by the client.
Our approach results in the production of functional parts that are tested and evaluated before we proceed to the next phase in the development cycle. Our method of development affords better flexibility, increased awareness of risks, more accurate estimations, and a built in client approval check system at each level to ensure that the finished product remains true to the original vision. Since this is a dynamic process, additional needs, modifications or ideas discovered during the development phase will also be incorporated into the design.
We adhere to the following six stages in every design project:
- Discovery
- Analysis
- Design
- Development
- Deployment
- Maintenance
- Discovery
In the discovery phase we work with you to understand in detail the goals of the web site and the audience it targets. This includes a comprehensive discussion of your business or organization and how its objectives can be served online. We concentrate on how you can convey your message(s) and the possible strategies for achieving your objectives.
Brainstorming and the creation of a list of features to be refined during the design phase are also documented at this time. We review any existing resources such as graphics, or literature that can be utilized in the web site, and conduct competitive and comparative research against web sites in your market or industry.
We work together in mapping your budget and forecast a timeline in order to reach an optimal plan of action for how to proceed.
- Analysis
During the analysis phase we take the information gathered through discovery and evaluate it for potential risks, ambiguity, conflicts, and inconsistency.
At this point, any required documents are reduced to a workable "short-list" of functional specifications, and any existing resources are gathered to determine if and how they can be implemented. We decide on any technology needed for the project, and define any logistical requirements such as hosting services, maintenance plans, and storage space.
With the specifications in place, we can develop a navigational flowchart and sitemap. It is here that we finalize how visitors will interact with your web site in terms of information architecture.
Our strategy is designing the web site to be intuitive to use while at the same time guiding the users towards the actions you want them to perform. We provide you with a site prototype, which are reviewed, tested, and refined until a final satisfactory design is reached.
- Design
In the design phase we assemble the visual layout of the web site based on guidelines developed in the previous phase. To keep the project moving forward, it is critical that you are comfortable with the final prototype agreed upon in the analysis phase as being the one to be developed.
At this stage, we start to develop the final prototype and begin the process of developing the mood, colours, graphics, themes, and typography. We use the final template as our principal test of cross-browser compatibility and standards compliance.
- Development
The development phase involves the actual markup, coding, and production of individual pages. This is the most labour-intensive stage in the creation of a web site. At the end of this phase, a fully functional beta web site will be delivered, comprising the full scope of the requirements specifications and ready for finalization and deployment.
It is critical that we are supplied with all the relevant information for the web site prior to the start of the development phase. Our staged delivery methodology plays a critical role in development. Testing, review, revision, and approval for each component of the web site will rely on your collaboration with us. Because we maintain high visibility of the WIP (work in progress), you will have the opportunity to request changes through minor evolutionary iterations.
- Deployment
Upon deployment, we perform a final check and review as the site is transferred to the production server and goes live. We invite you to participate in an overall check in order to detect any unforeseen issues that arise from the live environment. Typically, we conduct a series of tests on the production server to ensure file paths and scripting functionality have been maintained.
At this point, we perform any training required by your personnel, and answer any final questions on continued maintenance and web strategy.
Once the site is deployed and live testing concluded, the final approval takes place and we hand over a production CD including all the web site graphics, web pages, code, and any associated development assets. There are no surprises because you have been involved in the process from start to finish. You are now ready to reap the benefits from one of your organization's wisest investments.
- Maintenance
Although your web site is finished, in reality you may not gain the true benefits it can bring without continued involvement. We offer two months of free services that include:
- Registration of your web site with the major search engines and directories. These will only consist of search engines and directories that do not charge a fee for registration
- Traffic analysis
- Link testing
- Problems that develop with the functionality of the web site
- Telephone consultation
At the conclusion of the free period, we offer retainer services for the items mentioned in the above listed paragraph.
We also offer web promotion services and consulting in the area of web strategy. In fact, this may be one of the most intelligent investments you can make. Web site publicity and promotion can take a number of forms:
- Pay per click
- Advertising
- Link exchanges
- Google AdWord
- Directory listing
- Email marketing
- Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
- And much more
We aim to develop collaborative, long-lasting relationships with our clients and remain ready to assist you in the success of your current and future web site initiatives.