Web Design Process

Setting up and designing your web-site should be a quick process, but requires good communication between developer and client, for us to get to know you and what you require from the site, and for you to get to know us, and how we can help develop your business web-site to compliment your business.

In order to help manage your website’s development, we have broken down the development process into a number of steps, giving us benchmarks and goals to reach as we progress towards a finished site ready to be handed over to you to manage and update as and when you want. Our website development process is divided into six phases. The time it takes to complete each phase depends on numerous factors, such as the amount and availability of content, the size and complexity of the site, and the features implemented in the site. For smaller sites, each phase generally takes about one week – so your site could be up and operational in a little over a month.

(NB we can have a basic site up in a matter of hours for those with an urgent requirement to have a basic web-presence – usually only an interim measure as a site is developed).

Each phase is made up of a number of tasks assigned to either the designer or the client. Tasks are all managed through the Web-Duka website with developers and clients having access to an online task management interface, so that the development process can be clearly followed by both Web-Duka and the client.

Each phase should be completed before moving on to the next. Building an effective and relevant web-site requires essential input from from both parties, so a number of tasks in our development process are assigned to the client.

• First Phase - Getting to know each other
  
  Your new CMS website begins by contacting us by email or through our online website requirements form. From here we establish your needs, and discussing what a Web-Duka CMS website can do for your business.
  
  We will discuss your website development needs and design requirements, and once we understand what you are looking for in a website, we will send you a Web-Duka website development proposal. Having read, discussed and possibly amended the proposal, and you have decided to use Web-Duka to develop your site, we sign a website development contract, and begin working together to meet the requirements laid out in our proposal.

• Second Phase - Setup
  
  Set up domain name, hosting, and email requirements.

• Third Phase - Commence the build
  
  This is where Web-Duka implement the content management system, and install information architecture relevant to the requirements of your site. A site design based on an easily changeable .css theme is created.

• Fourth Phase - Navigation and structure
  
  The main navigation and design structure of the site is built. Draft content including text and images start filling out the framework, and the site begins to take shape.

• Fifth Phase - Main website content and features
  
  Web-Duka now enter the site content provided by you, and setup and test the various components and functions of the site.
  At the end of this phase we ask the client to review the website design and functionality, and notify us of any changes.

• Sixth Phase - Website completion, hand-over and training
  
  Once we have implemented any changes made from feedback in Phase Five, the site is considered built according to the requirements laid out in the proposal agreed on in Phase One.
  
  Web-Duka hands over all information required to manage the site as well as appropriate copyrights. The Client signs off, and takes over ownership and management of the site. Final payment installment is made.
  
  This is not however the end of the road in terms of your relationship with Web-Duka. We will continue to provide support during any “teething troubles” as well as three months of online support to ensure the owner is comfortable with managing the site.

We will also be available to quote for further developments of your site beyond the scope of content management – such as installing new site features, maintenance or extending existing features. Please view the Maintenance & SEO section of this website for more information.