Summary

Topic 1 Web design needs to consider planning

Planning is the key to a successful website. Planning is an integral part of almost every project – just like asking what good a blueprint does for a building. You can build a house without a blueprint, otherwise it will end up being ineffective and collapse! There are no hard and fast rules when it comes to planning. The goals you set must balance needs with what is realistically achievable. Don't make too many assumptions before involving the user. Thoroughly research the needs of potential users of your website, and then map those needs to the needs of your customers. You must plan for aesthetic and functional management that handles unpredictable content and behavior. You must investigate the browsers and platforms your users may be using and plan accordingly. The best websites are the result of planning with the client, understanding what they want to convey and bringing your insight and knowledge to the table to facilitate this. Knowing the people you are designing for and understanding their behavior are the most important aspects of planning.

Topic 2 Never Skip Creating a Sitemap

Never skip sitemaps as they can help you simplify the user experience. Make sure all elements are rendered on all pages, such as footers, logos, calls to actions, and more. Prioritize features and develop a roadmap for success. Wireframes are essential for designing interactions. Make sure your plan isn't just about getting your website online, but includes room for development, growth, and new technology. Use popular tools to ensure both quality and ambiguity, making plans easier to edit and update by a wide range of people. A plan needs room to grow and adapt, and like the best robust and flexible websites, a good plan is built naturally.

Topic 3 Planning must consider rich media components

Videos, animations, photo galleries and downloadable files all impact bandwidth costs and require a specific hosting environment to handle them. You need to figure out whether the site will use data sources other than its own database, and how those data sources will be integrated into the site both technically and visually. You must determine if the site will be content managed, and if so by whom, as this defines whether a publishing workflow is required, potentially changing the required hosting environment. You need to figure out whether the website will use resources outside of its own database. We find it useful during the planning process to showcase the design beyond the structure.