Topic 1 - Understanding what level of planning is needed for a particular project is key.
It’s important to ensure everyone you’re working with is on the same page. It’s also important to have a balance between what is required, and what is realistically achievable. Great project planning can come through collaboration and great relationships. Understanding the level of planning that is needed, and understanding who will be reading it is key. Once the plan is down, your next step should be doing some competitive analysis. You are able to learn alot from the successes and failures of other websites.
Topic 2 - Top 5 Planning Checklist.
The client - The best sites can result from planning with or alongside a client, and understanding what they are trying to communicate and then bringing in your insight and knowledge. You want to fully understand the client's aims.
The users - the most important aspect of planning is knowing and understanding who you are designing for. Target audience cannot just be “everyone”.
The budget - From your clients budget you can calculate what is possible to create and how to maximize your resources.
The technology - Its best to follow accessibility guidelines even if it is not defined in the brief. This results in cleaner and well structured content and code.
The future - Longevity and adaptability are key.
Topic 3 - The joy of tech.
Many modern sites are going beyond text and imagery, so rich media components are crucial. Image galleries, animation, and downloadable files all affect cost and require a specific hosting environment so they are able to cope. How data is managed affects how the site can be built. Make sure you and your client are always on the same page with this topic.