DesignMap Inc.

Design Process for Web Sites and Web Applications

  1. Understand customer's environment and define the problem or opportunity, the user requirements, the users and their goals. These are created within the context of the market and business strategy.
  2. Analyze the environment. Gain as much information as possible through user research, scenarios, the competition, user tasks and historical data.
  3. Design. If its a web application, a model of the user, the interaction and the technology is created. These are represented by user flow charts, wireframe mockups, interactive prototypes, preliminary mockups of the look and feel, and preliminary UI specifications.
  4. Validate and iterate the design through usability testing, performing design walkthroughs, checking the requirements, and reviewing the design with marketing and engineering teams.
  5. When the design is ready for implementation, the UI specifications and user flowcharts are finalized and final icons, layouts and production- level mockups are created, if necessary, to provide the implementation team with the most accurate specifications possible.
  6. The designer works with engineering reviewing and modifying the implementation as needed.

When working on complex web applications, communicating effectively with all members of the team is necessary for success. Understanding how and when the various team members interact is crucial.

This diagram communicates the stages when various tasks are done independently and when they are integrated.

This diagram communicates the level of involvement required at each phase of the process. Every function needs to be involved in each phase of the project. The level of involvement changes for each function depending on the phase.