Last updated

25 September 2008

Design

Design  the look and feel of the website

1. Develop a customer colour palette for the site

Any colour you like as longs it is................... unfortunately web browsers can only see between 216 and 256 colours.  To overcome this it is necessary to use pictures, but this limits the website design capability

1. Choose fonts to use with text, navigation, etc

Fonts too are limited,  there are about ten that can be used safely.  If the user does not have the font used on the website installed on their computer the browser will substitute it for a different one., this can make a mess of the website.  If a particular font must be used, the text using it will have to be converted to a picture.  Fonts can be part of the business image

1. Determine screen size, especially page width

Depending on the age, type of computer, equipment, and configuration used by the user, the screen size can differ.

1. Create examples of possible site looks

It is helpful for the client to supply web addresses of website that they like the look and function of, the websites do not need to be in the same trade.  With this and all the results of brain storming the website designer will be able to create examples

1. Choose the metaphor, if any, and design the visual interface

Metaphor: A relation between two symbols, which may be simple juxtaposition (literal metaphor), a rhetorical statement of likeness or similarity (descriptive metaphor), an analogy of proportion among four terms (formal metaphor), an identity of an individual with its class (concrete universal or archetypal metaphor), or statement of hypothetical identity (anagogic metaphor).
Don’t you just love definitions!!  The word ‘metaphor’ is in fact applicable here.  In other words should your site resembles anything, if at all

1. Determine the names of the major sections and features

Give names to the pages, pictures, icons, navigation buttons if different to the pages, banners, headers, footers and any other parts of the website

1. Create navigation graphics and any site specific icon system

The website designer task, helped if the client has examples as guides

1. Create examples showing layout of key pages

The website designer task, with guidance from the client

1. Begin content development especially for key pages

Text should be supplied in a digital format.  The text should be proof read to ensure there are no spelling and other grammatical errors.  The text should have labels to say where it is to be placed

1. Proceed with R&D of specialised technology