General Design Process

The general design process for most project will be the same, but be scaled up or down depending on the complexity of the project. These stages can be loosely broken up in to the design discovery stage, design development stage, and design creation stage. We have included a description of the process for a typical web site which branding as an example.

Design Process for a Website including branding

After a project has been agreed with a client, initial ideas and concepts will be developed using research and mood boards. Research around the area is useful to gain an idea of current trends in the market place, and how a client could maximise their impact. Mood boards are a great way for Design and i to communicate their ideas and concepts for project before the design is crafted, so that both the client and ourselves have a shared vision for the project. We feel mood boards are essential part of the Design and i design process.

At this point we would usually start working on the branding and logo for the project, as much of the identity will hang off this. The logo design process begins with designing a number of initial concepts and variations. These are narrowed down and evolved with the client to the final logo and brand identity. Clients who already have an existing identity often have it refreshed at this stage.

For creation of the website, initially a site map, mapping out all the pages in the site is created. It is also often useful for high concept projects to create a concept document, which is similar to a film synopsis. The site map and the concept document then becomes the blue print for the site design and build. On large projects a top down design is also created. This gives the client a description/narrative of all the pages in the site, similar to a treatment in a film. This document also helps to create a shared vision for the project with the client. For very complicated technical projects a functional specification is also created.

The next stage in the project is to create screen designs for the main pages in the site, based on information collected in the previous stages. The screen designs are static images of what the site will look like. These are then evolved with the client until the final design of the web site is agreed.

After the screen designs are approved, the site is then created using the chosen technology, and eventually uploaded to the Internet.

After a project has finished often clients will require updates and maintenance for the site as well as other design requirements across both web and print, which is Design and i is happy to provide.