The Web Development Process

Once we start working together on your website, SunRain will break the project into five stages:

  • Stage 1: Planning
  • Stage 2: Design
  • Stage 3: Development
  • Stage 4: Quality Assurance
  • Stage 5: Launch

The most difficult stages are the first two, though Stage 3 will take the most time. Stages 1, 2 and 4 require active participation from you, and will need to be scheduled during times when you can be fully accessible to SunRain as needed.

Stage 1: Planning

During the planning stage, we will determine the information architecture of your site. In practical terms, these look a lot like a complicated family tree, showing how each content and interface element connects with the others. This then turns into the user interface plan and wireframes, which tell the design and development teams exactly how the site needs to operate.

Stage 2: Design

The design stage will begin with mood-boards, during which we work with you to find the right colors, fonts, and design elements for the "feel" you want your site to evoke. Once a mood-board and design elements have been establish, the designer will work with you to find the best layouts for the various pages and sections on your site. It is important that you keep in mind that websites are not like brochures: every user will have a different experience, click on different buttons, and use a different tool to look at your site. The experience needs to be dynamic and agile based on the specific user's needs, and the more rigid your design, the harder it will be to keep a user engaged. Users like to "own" their experience.

Stage 3: Development

Development is the period during which your site is built. You will be able to refine your content during this period (though we need at least preliminary drafts content going into the development stage, and will have a better information architecture for you the more content we have going into Stage 1), but SunRain will be working, to some degree, in a vacuum during Stage 3.

Stage 4: Quality Assurance

Stage 4, the Quality Assurance stage, is very important. During this time we need you to use your website and help us find any oddities, bugs, etc. You will also be able to locate and make any corrections required in your content.

Stage 5: Launch

Once your site launches, you will also want to think about maintenance. Even with a CMS enabling you to update the content easily on your own, your site will still need occasional security updates and tweaks. We can work with you on a maintenance plan that makes sense for your site and needs. One way to think about having a new site, however, is like having a car: a car requires oil changes, infrequent tune-ups, and occasional major repairs. Websites are very similar.

 

Take a look at our FAQ for more information, including Search Engine Optimization and the initial questions you will want to answer before starting your site: Click Here.