Lesson 1

Welcome to Planning a Website Design!
This course describes the first

1. three layers of the Web Interaction Model,
2. signs and metaphors,
3. information architecture,
4. and software,

as they apply to the website design of a project.
As the second in a three-part series that teaches you the requirements for planning a Web site, this course teaches the standards and tools Web design teams apply to meet the demands of developing a client's Web site.
The third course in this series, Planning a Web Site Deployment, focuses on networks and hardware requirements, the two remaining layers of the Web Interaction Model.

1. After completing the course, you will be able to:
2. Describe the importance of signs and metaphors for engaging users
3. Describe the tools and team process for creating effective signs and metaphors
4. Identify success factors and risks in creating signs and metaphors
5. Identify how a design team plans a Web site's information architecture
6. Describe how a client's needs determine information architecture requirements
7. Describe the various software packages used to design and deploy Web sites
8. Describe how a design team selects the most efficient software solution to meet the client's needs

In this course, you will learn about design strategies and tools with three kinds of applets:

Signs and metaphors play an important role in engaging users during web design, as they help to create a more intuitive and user-friendly experience. Some of the ways that signs and metaphors can help to engage users include:

1. Providing Context: Signs and metaphors can provide context and help users to understand the purpose and function of a website, making it easier for them to navigate and find the information they need.
2. Enhancing User Experience: Signs and metaphors can enhance the user experience by creating a more visually appealing and memorable experience. This can help to make a website more engaging and increase the likelihood that users will return.
3. Facilitating Navigation: Signs and metaphors can help to facilitate navigation by providing clear visual cues and making it easier for users to understand how to move from one section of a website to another.
4. Creating a Brand Identity: Signs and metaphors can also help to create a brand identity by reinforcing the brand's values and personality, making it easier for users to associate a website with a particular brand.
5. Encouraging Interaction: Signs and metaphors can encourage interaction by making it clear what actions users can take and providing visual feedback when actions are completed. This can help to make a website feel more interactive and engaging.

Signs and metaphors are important tools for engaging users during web design, as they provide context, enhance the user experience, facilitate navigation, create a brand identity, and encourage interaction. The use of signs and metaphors can help to create a more intuitive and user-friendly experience, making it easier for users to find what they're looking for and encouraging them to return to a website.

Planning a Web Site Design is the second of three courses in the Internet Development Teams and Technologies Series. The first course in the series is Planning Website Deployment.