The 7 key steps of website design

The process of designing a website is not only about the technical aspects, such as mock-ups, development or content management. Great web design is more about overall strategy, which goes far beyond integrating social networking buttons or attractive visuals. Well-designed websites offer much more than just aesthetics. They attract visitors and help them understand the product, the company and the brand through various indicators, whether visual, textual or interactive. Each element of the site must therefore contribute to a specific objective.

In this article, we present the 7 steps of the web design process used by the webflow agency Digidop to create successful websites:

1. Goal identification: work with the client to determine the goals of the site.
2. Scope definition: once the objectives have been determined, define the scope of the project, i.e. the pages and functionalities required to achieve these objectives.
3. Creation of the site map and UX design mock-ups: determine the structure and relationships between the different pages and content elements.
4. Content creation: produce content for individual pages with SEO in mind so that each page focuses on a specific topic.
5. Visual elements: the designers work on the visual identity of the brand and the transposition of this coherence on the whole UI design of the new website.
6. Tests: check that all web pages of the website work correctly on different devices and browsers, and correct any errors.
7. Launch: plan and configure the technical launch (DNS) of the site, determining the date and the communication strategies around this event.

Step 1: Identification of objectives

At the beginning of the process, it is essential to work closely with the client to determine the objectives of the website. Questions such as: Who is the site for? What do visitors expect? What is the main purpose of the site? Is it part of a larger brand strategy? What are the competing sites and how should this site differentiate itself from them?

To avoid going in the wrong direction, it is crucial to answer these questions clearly in a collaborative workshop.

Step 2: Scoping

One of the most common and difficult problems in web design projects is "scope creep", i.e. the gradual extension of the project's scope along the way. To avoid this, it is important to define a realistic scope and to set achievable deadlines and/or plan staged launches. Using processes, such as a Gantt chart, can help!

Step 3: Creation of the site map and mock-ups

The site map is the foundation of any well-designed website. It gives a clear idea of the structure of the site and the relationships between the different pages and content elements. The mock-ups, on the other hand, help visualize the layout of the elements on each page. These two elements are essential to define the overall architecture of the site and for developers and web designers to be on the same page.

Step 4: Content creation

Content is one of the most important elements of a successful website. It must be informative, engaging and SEO optimized. This means working closely with members of the company's marketing team to create content that matches the site's goals, while ensuring that each page focuses on a specific topic and meets the needs of users.

Step 5: Visual Elements

The brand's visual identity should be consistent throughout the site. Visual elements, such as colors, fonts, images and icons, must be carefully selected to reflect the brand's identity and reinforce its image. When designing a website, designers must work closely with clients to ensure that the visual elements meet their expectations and objectives.

Step 6: Testing

Testing is a crucial step in the web design process. They allow to verify that the site works correctly on different devices and browsers (Chrome, Mozilla, Safari, Arc, etc..). And to detect possible errors or problems of user experience (UX). It is best to perform tests regularly throughout the development process to ensure that problems are not present throughout the development.

Step 7: Launch

The launch of the site is a crucial step that requires careful planning. The launch date, communication strategies and actions to promote the site must be determined. Once the site is launched, it is important to continue to monitor and optimize it based on user feedback and the SEO performance of your site (which you can track on Google's free tool: the google Search Console).

In this article, discover for example the organization of an event intended to announce the rebranding and the launch of the new site of Digidop.

The best web design tools to use

• Figma: Figma is an online platform dedicated to UX/UI design that allows designers to create interactive mock-ups for websites and mobile applications. Thanks to its collaborative features, Figma facilitates exchanges and feedback between team members, as well as with clients.
• Webflow: Webflow is the no-code website development tool without compromise between design and performance
• Markup: Visual feeback platform between web-designers, developers and clients
• Loom: Loom is a video messaging solution that reduces distractions and optimizes team productivity. By offering the ability to record and share video messages, Loom facilitates communication and collaboration within teams, while making exchanges clearer and more educational.

Conclusion

Creating a successful website requires a structured approach and careful attention to each step of the website design process.

By following these 7 key steps and working closely with the client, designers can create websites that are attractive, functional, and aligned with the company's goals.

In general, using a specialized agency such as Digidop, which is committed to providing high quality web design solutions tailored to the specific needs of each client, is a major asset to ensure the online success of his business.