Six-Phase Cycle of the Web Development Process Model
The Website Development Process is a six-phase cycle that requires a design team to complete design documents, called deliverables, before proceeding to the next phase. Activities for completing the deliverables are assigned to specific members of the design team at each phase in the process. The development cycle begins with Discovery and concludes with the Post-Delivery phase. However, as you will see, the cycle does not really end, but loops back to the Discovery phase, accounting for one of the few absolutes regarding Web design: The site is never final. The following MouseOver illustrates the phases and the major deliverables of each phase. Pay close attention to which documents are delivered at each phase, and think about how they fit into the process at that point.
Discovery Phase: Statement of Need, Request for proposal (RFP) developed
Definition: Web design team submits a response or proposal, phase concludes with signed contract
What are the six elements which make up the "website development" process model?
The "website development" process model typically consists of six key elements or stages that guide the creation and deployment of a website. These elements ensure a structured approach to designing, developing, and maintaining an effective website. Below are the six elements:
Planning
Objective: Define the purpose, goals, and target audience of the website.
Activities:
Gather requirements from stakeholders.
Research competitors and industry trends.
Outline the website’s structure (e.g., sitemap) and key features.
Set project timelines, budgets, and deliverables.
Output: A detailed project plan, including a roadmap for the design and development phases.
Design
Objective: Create the visual and interactive aspects of the website.
Activities:
Develop wireframes to map out the layout of pages.
Create high-fidelity mockups and prototypes to define the website's look and feel.
Focus on user experience (UX) and user interface (UI) design principles, such as ease of navigation and aesthetic appeal.
Output: Finalized design specifications, including layouts, color schemes, fonts, and visual elements.
Development
Objective: Build the website’s backend and frontend functionality based on the design.
Activities:
Code the website using appropriate programming languages (e.g., HTML, CSS, JavaScript, and frameworks like React or Angular).
Set up databases and integrate backend functionalities (e.g., user authentication, payment systems).
Test functionalities in various browsers and devices for responsiveness and compatibility.
Output: A functional website prototype or development build.
Content Creation
Objective: Populate the website with relevant, engaging, and optimized content.
Activities:
Create and organize text, images, videos, and other media elements.
Implement SEO strategies for better search engine visibility.
Ensure that content aligns with the website’s purpose and target audience.
Output: Complete, high-quality content ready for integration into the website.
Testing and Launch
Objective: Identify and fix issues to ensure a smooth user experience.
Activities:
Conduct rigorous testing for functionality, usability, performance, and security.
Check for responsiveness on different devices and browsers.
Fix bugs and refine features based on user feedback and test results.
Deploy the website to a live environment or production server.
Output: A live website that is functional, user-friendly, and ready for public access.
Maintenance and Optimization
Objective: Keep the website updated, secure, and optimized for performance.
Activities:
Monitor website performance and address issues promptly (e.g., broken links, server downtime).
Update content regularly to keep it fresh and relevant.
Implement new features or enhancements based on user feedback and evolving business needs.
Use analytics tools to track user behavior and optimize the website for better engagement and conversions.
Output: A well-maintained, high-performing website that continues to meet business and user needs.
These six elements form a cohesive process that ensures the successful development and ongoing success of a website. Each stage is interconnected, requiring careful attention to detail and collaboration among stakeholders.
1) Discovery 2) Definition 3) Design 4) Development 5) Delivery 6) Post-Delivery
Discovery Phase: Statement of Need, Request for proposal (RFP) developed
Definition: Response or Proposal, phase concludes with signed contract
Web site development is continuous and iterative. Once a site is launched, it continues to grow and evolve.
Each time a component is added to a site, the Web development team is likely to follow an abridged version of the original development process, adding to the original deliverables information about new features. In the process cycle, Post-Delivery loops back to Discovery.
Throughout the "Website Development Process", the web team will work with the various components of the Web Interaction Model. For example, during the Design phase, the team will initially describe the signs and metaphors in a document often referred to as the Creative Brief. The information architecture is detailed in the Navigational Brief and strategies regarding software, hardware, and the network are described in the Requirements Definition and the Design and Architecture Specification.
The following series of images provides a high level model for how the process works:
1) Discovery comes first, when initial contact between parties is established, and general requirements are assessed.
2) During the definition phase the client team and design team develop a contract based on client needs and Web team capabilities. The phase concludes with a signed contract. 3) When the needs are defined, the team outlines their ideas in the Design phase.
4) With approval of the design, the team can proceed to carry out the plan in the Development phase.
5) The team delivers the finished product to the client in the Delivery phase. 6) Post delivery completes the procedure with documentation and plans for ongoing maintenance, including site metrics. The cycle then loops the whole process back again to the Discovery phase.
Web Colloboration enables the remote development of individual activities.
RFP - Request for Proposal
Discovery/RFP: The first step in designing a successful web site is to gather information.
Many things need to be taken into consideration when we design the look and feel of your site, so we first ask a lot of questions to help us understand your business and your needs in a web site.
Definition: Using the information gathered from phase one, we put together a plan for your web site. Here we develop a site map, a list of all main topic areas of the site, as well as sub-topics (if applicable). This gives us a guide as to what content will be on the site, and is essential to developing a consistent, easy to understand navigational system. This is also the point where we decide what technologies should be implemented , for example, interactive forms, CMS (content management system) such as Cacoon.
Design: Drawing from the information gathered up to this point, we determine the look and feel of the site. Target audience is one of the key factors taken into consideration here. A site aimed at non-professionals will look much different than one meant for a financial institution. We also incorporate elements such as the company logo or colors to help strengthen the identity of your company on the web site.
Development: This is where the web site itself is created. We take all of the individual graphic elements from the prototype and use them to create the functional web site. We also take your content and distribute it throughout the site, in the appropriate areas. This entire time, you will continue to be able to view your site in the Client Studio, and suggest any additional changes or corrections you would like to have done.
Delivery: At this point, we attend to the final details and test your web site. We test things such as the complete functionality of forms or other scripts, we test for last minute compatibility issues (viewing differences between different web browsers), ensuring that the site is optimized to be viewed properly in the most recent browser versions.
Post-Delivery: The development of your web site is not necessarily over, though. One way to bring repeat visitors to your site is to offer new content or products on a regular basis. If this interests you, we will be more than happy to continue working together with you to update the information on your web site. We offer maintenance packages at reduced rates, based on how often you anticipate making changes or additions to your site.
