Although you may be tempted to sit down at your computer and simply start coding your site, good Web sites do not come together by chance. Rather, careful planning is needed to ensure that your site’s content is organized logically, that your site fits your user’s needs, and that your navigation works and is intuitive. Planning a site may not be the most exciting task in the overall process, but it is perhaps the most important. In general, well-planned sites come together much more quickly and are more likely to end up being something you can be proud of.
Brainstorm Design Concepts
Most successful finished designs are the result of taking parts from several ideas and combining them into a whole. In your brainstorming session, whether you are working alone or in a team, always remember that no idea should be rejected out-of-hand.
Wireframe the Design
A wireframe is simply a representation of the site’s structure and layout. It does not need to be fancy — many wireframes are simply boxes with labels — but you should try to get proportions correct to make sure the design works. You can draw the wireframes by hand or use a graphics program such as Adobe Fireworks.
Storyboard Pages
Storyboards provide more detailed representations of your design. You can use storyboards to see how the color scheme from your project will work and begin to get an idea of what graphics you might use. You can create a storyboard for each page in your site, although sites with animated elements may require multiple storyboards.
Develop a Timeline for Completion
If you are working for a client or developing a Web site for your company, you need to discuss with your client or boss a realistic timeline that includes deadlines along the way in which you can complete the project. If you are creating a personal site, a timeline can be just as important to keep you on track.
No comments:
Post a Comment