Our Web Design Process – How We Build the Website You Want to See
PlanetMagpie creates a new website design by working entirely around our client's goals. We bring the expertise of local California designers, web and application developers, copywriters, SEO engineers, and Silicon Valley project managers. You bring what you need the site to do, and the goals you want it to achieve.
These are the steps we take in designing a new website's layout, branding, navigation and graphics. (For updating an existing website, see our Website Updates page.)
A. Initial Meeting
The initial meeting is where we meet with the client face-to-face (whenever possible), learn about their business, and identify their goals for their new website. We review their current website (if there is one) alongside them, so we can determine what should be carried over & what should be replaced.
--From this meeting, we develop a project quote which provides time estimates and pricing for each of the following stages.
Our Client is Involved By: Identifying what's important to you, clarifying your goals, and defining your requirements for the new site.
B. Project Kick-Off
When the quote is approved, we discuss which tools we'll use with the client. Based on what you want the website to do, we'll recommend a selection of Web 2.0 tools, like Flash animation, blogs and forums, social media APIs and audio/video. Or we'll recommend creating new tools if that's more efficient. Our custom programming is done in ASP.NET for cutting-edge flexibility.
Our Client is Involved By: It's your choice which of our solutions we implement on your site.
C. Collaboration
Once the technology is decided upon, we begin an initial layout design of the homepage (called a "comp," short for composite) which establishes branding, the user interface and the navigation's design. This is where the fonts, color scheme and overall "look" is agreed upon. The comp is presented to the client for feedback and potential revisions, so they can OK the design before we continue. Content writing, if needed, is also begun at this stage.
Once the homepage comp is approved, based on the client’s feedback, we move to secondary page design. Here we combine some of the layout & imagery from the homepage with a priority placed on the clear display of the website's content. The secondary page then acts as a template for the rest of the site. Secondary page design is also reviewed with the client for approval.
Our Client is Involved By: Reviewing and approving (or changing) the design layout before any code is written.
D. Design Build
Now the development begins, matching HTML, CSS and security to the design the client wants. Once the layout and navigation are put into place, the content is added. This stage is what we call a "prototype site."
At this point, any special elements are also integrated. Things like presentations, maps, file uploads, etc. – important items the client wants to offer to their visitors.
Our Client is Involved By: We apprise you of the website's build and design status, and any adjustments to deadline estimates. All requested changes are implemented at this point.
E. Add-Ins
Once the design is finalized and content is in place, we start adding in things like SEO meta tags and any remaining coding (forms, e-commerce, custom programming, etc.). This way any coding or formatting issues show up at once, and are more easily fixed.
Our Client is Involved By: All SEO tags must be approved by the client before use. Any custom programming is also done at client request.
F. Quality Assurance Testing (QA)
When it's nearly complete, PlanetMagpie conducts testing on the new website. All the elements listed above are checked, along with how well the site works in multiple browsers.
Our Client is Involved By: Once QA is completed, the client is shown the new website for final checks.
At PlanetMagpie, our clients are involved in every step of the design process, making the entire process not only more efficient, but also that much more fun.
If you're interested in a new company website, call PlanetMagpie W3 at 408-341-8770. Or email us at
w3@planetmagpie.com for a free consultation.
