6 Phases of the Web Design and Development Process

6 Phases of the Web Design and Development Process
6 Phases of the Web Design and Development Process

Web designing and development is the process of creating a website by following the necessary steps and phases. Designing a website plays a vital role in the growth and development of the business. Creating a highly functional, creative, and robust website can enhance the brand’s reputation. It’s also the way to attract more target users and build a strong customer base. Website design that offers exceptional customer experience is more likely to win the trust and loyalty of customers. Adding great features and functionalities to a website can take your business to the next level. All this can be achieved when a website is implemented by following the six important steps.

WHAT ARE THE SIX-PHASE INVOLVED IN THE WEB DESIGN AND DEVELOPMENT

Now let’s explore the top six important phases of web design and development.

1. Information gathering and discovery

The first and foremost step of web design and development is information gathering. In this phase, the designer studies the user’s requirements, purpose, goals, and objectives of the project. The designer must create a user persona and demographics which includes the age, sex, education, occupation, region, etc. that help you in gaining better insights about your customers. Moreover, ask the client regarding the purpose of creating a website and what goals he/she wants to accomplish through the website. Get to know if the client wants to sell a service or wants to educate the audience through the website. By gathering the information you’ll have a better understanding of the client’s needs and requirements.

2. Project discussion and planning

Project discussion and planning are held with the team members, project manager, and stakeholders to identify the project requirements. Project scope, timeline, milestones, deliverables, etc. are discussed within the team. Project planning is a crucial factor to ensure smooth communication between the team members. However, if the team has carried out a great discussion and planning of the project, then the chances of success rate are higher. Because the team is well-aware of the overall project requirements. Each team member is assigned a particular task that needs to be delivered within the specified period. The planning guide must cover the important topics that are essential for creating a website including the website flow, content, navigational system, logical flow, etc.

3. Website design

It’s one of the important phases of website development in which designers create the website design. The designer creates the website prototype that involves the designs, interface, screens, user flow, and interaction with the web design. Prototypes are created using tools and frameworks which is shared among the team and stakeholders. End-users are involved in the prototyping phase to test the prototypes. Once it gets approved the designer team moves towards the actual design of the website. Designing the website’s navigational structure, layout, user interface, elements, images, etc. are the necessary factors of the designing phase. WordPress, InVision studio, Photoshop, Adobe Dreamweaver, Google web designer, and many more designing tools are available for creating exceptional web design.

4. Website development & implementation

The fourth phase is the coding and development phase that requires clean and well-written code. Various programs and software such as Angular.JS, JQuery, Sublime, Bootstrap, etc. are utilized to integrate the elements of the website design into a fully functional website. Website features and functionalities are implemented to make it work according to the client’s requirements. Coding of the website and database creation are the steps involved in this phase. Linking the code with the database is essential to make the website completely functional. Once the code and database run accurately and properly, then the developer can move towards finalizing the coding phase.

5. Website testing and delivery 

Website testing is one of the crucial phases of website development to ensure that the website has a great performance, speed, functionality, and enhanced usability. QA team prepares the test cases and performs different types of testing such as content testing, functional, design testing, usability testing, etc. Before the release, the website is tested by different types of users to check usability as it’s important to provide a good user experience that will lead to the success of the website. There are various testing tools for website testing including Browserstack, Responsinator, Emulator, responsive design checker, and so on. Then the website is delivered and launched.

6. Website maintenance

The last phase is website maintenance in which the website content and design are maintained to keep it updated. Website maintenance is essential to keep your website up to date and free from technical issues. The website must be maintained to constantly attract visitors and customers. There are certain factors that play a vital role in website maintenance that are as follow:

  • Scanning for viruses and vulnerabilities.
  • Security of the website
  • Repairs and fixes
  • Software updates
  • Website backups
  • Website Speed
  • SEO and analytics
  • Browser compatibility testing

Final Words

Designing a website for any business is common nowadays, but to ensure the growth and success of the website, it’s important to make a website by following the six necessary steps. Following these six steps helps in becoming more competitive, strong, and successful in website development. These are not just the stages, but also the key to creating an excellent website that meets the business goals and objectives. Using the right technology, framework, and technique will help you create a top-notch website.