Step One in Any Website Design

New websites should begin as an outline in a word processor, or try the good old fashioned pencil and paper. Planning the layout, navigation, and content of your site is really step one in the design process. I still encourage clients to consider their expectations for the performance of their websites, so this should be in the back of your mind as you create the outline.

Website design is a creative process and as such the look, feel, and content of any website will evolve. Adding content later will be easier if you plan ahead. You can document what you want in outline form. Here's an example of the initial redesign of my advice site for novice website design and graphic design students:

Main Menu

- Introduction
- Qualifications
- Examples
- Future Plans

Design

- Design Overview
- - - Website Design
- - - - - Basic Website Standards
- - - - - Features to Avoid
- - - - - Design Rules for SEO
- - - - - Your Website Visitors
- - - Graphic Design
- - - - - Artwork for Websites
- - - - - Artwork for Print

- Design Toolbox
- - - Software for Code
- - - - - GridinSoft NotePad Word Processor
- - - Software for Graphics
- - - - - Xara Xtreme for Custom Art
- - - Software for PDFs
- - - - - pdfFactory Pro to Create PDF Files

This includes the original content prior to the redesign, planned fresh content, and leaves the design flexible to add more in the future. As a designer, or client specifying a design, the whole website project will be easier to develop and complete on time by using this planning advice and design strategy.



TAGS: advice website design design strategy