Design Philosophy

Phase1: Defining the Project

The work done in Phase 1 set the scene for the whole project. During Phase 1 the aim is to fully understand the clients needs, their business, their marketplace and competition, and to communicate that to the whole team involved.

During this phase, Prolateral Consulting aim to become an 'expert user' in the client's business. Only then can we really understand what the client needs to achieve with their web site. The tools and processes used allow the gathering of information from key people in the clients business, usually information they take for granted and which is critical to the business.

The aim is to gain as full an understanding as possible of the final audience for the website. Early work on this will ensure that the subsequent development of the web site will result in the site that the client's users want to use.

A key deliverable during this phase is the Design Brief; it allows the client and Prolateral Consulting to verify and agree that they both understand what each other understands about the project - not always a trivial achievement. Once everyone is in agreement, and everyone understands what the project is about; budgetting and planning can be agreed, and Phase 2 can start. [>>> Top]

Phase 2: Developing Site Structure

The key function of the second phase is to ensure that the site works as desired/expected before any expensive work and costs are incurred.

Content is, obviously, critical to a website. Determining who will be responsible for what content at this stage ensures that a plan for the delivery of this content can be made. This can then be worked on in parallel with the other work on the site, and will be available at the right stage in the project to be put into the pre-production web site.

Extensive use of wireframes and storyboards is made, allowing dry-runs of a conceptual website on paper. Many issues with the usability of the site can be addressed and eliminated at this stage.    >>> Top

Phase 3: Visual Design & Testing

During this phase the fruits of the previous phases are used to produce two separate deliverables - a graphic design and a protosite.

The Graphic Design template is what the site will look like, and set the whole visual style of the site. Just like any other design process it is iterative, with the final decision being arrived at through discussion of ideas and concepts between the client and the designers. It is the evolution of the storyboards from the previous phase, with the emphasis on how it looks.

The Protosite is the other face of the coin. It is the evolution of the storyboards, but with only the functionality and navigation built into it. This is likely to be the first time that web browsers are used to check progress, with much of the functionality being available (but not necessarily pretty) to verify that the web site functions as expected for the client's end audience - the users.

The final sign-off and agreement of these two aspects of the website allows the project to unite them, in Phase 4. [>>> Top]

Phase 4: Production & QA

During this phase the functional Protosite, and the graphical design templates are united to form the final web site. At this stage, everyone should be happy that the protosite works how the site is expected to work, and the template looks how the site is expected to look.

During this phase it will be possible to verify all of the design criteria that were agreed earlier in the process are being acheived. Implementation-sensitive issues and all the technical aspects of implementing the final production site are addressed here, with the final result being a site which could be shown to a select set of 'the public' to provide for real-world testing.  [>>> Top]

Phase 5: Launch... and Beyond

Due to the incremental nature of the design process, when the final Phase is reached, the site will be functionally what the client and users need, and look like the client wants it to look.

Support at this stage is key to enable any switchover between old and new servers, or old and new websites, with the minimum of impact on business or users.

If there is a functional administration system behind the website, training and support for the client is key to enable the site and content to be maintained in a timely manner, and with the knowledge that they have not been cast adrift on the Internet without any help when it is needed.

Prolateral Consulting continue to provide proactive support and advice after the site is live, with the inevitable evolutions and scaling-up of site content and specifications which follow a successful website implementation.   [>>> Top]