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 Design
Process
Ocotillo Design uses a proven five-phase approach to Web design
based on years of experience in Website design, graphics and landscape/urban
design, and project management. Our approach reduces the chance
of "scope creep," in which unscheduled additions or changes
during site design add mounting costs and time to successful project
launch. We ensure your Website design project meets your needs as
well as your customers' needs while remaining within budget and
on schedule.
Follow a link below or scroll down for all information:
Phase 1: Defining the Site
The objective of this phase is to define the objectives of the
site. Specifically, it is to establish the goals of your Website
using a series of tools and discussions that hone our understanding
of the audience, competition, Website opportunities, and the site's
overall vision. Like the development of a physical community itself,
it is the initial and essential process of visioning, using successes
and lessons learned from similar sites. Tasks and products include
client survey, formal or informal competitive analysis, creative
brief, password-protected progress site, and staging site.
View
Sample Redesign Progress Site > >
To view, please login as Username ocotillo and Password design,
both lowercase.
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Phase 2: Developing Site Structure
Site structure equates to the hierarchy or architecture of the
site—both from a user's perspective and from the actual file
relationship structure. Developing site structure creates the backbone
of your Website, and is the map we will refer to throughout site
development. Tasks and products include site map/flowchart, naming
conventions, content/milestone schedule, wireframes, and interaction
(general overviews of user paths based on wireframes).
View
sample Wireframe > >
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Phase 3: Visual Design and Testing
Once the site map and navigation overview are complete, visual
design and testing begin. The site begins to take on its online
shape with the development of graphics, navigation bars, and page
layout. Tasks and products include visual design alternatives (generally
one to three visual designs that include sample home and secondary
Web pages), visual design final, testing, and page templates.
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Phase 4: Production and QA
Production and QA comprise the creation of the Website based on
the site map, wireframing, and chosen visual design. All aspects
of site design are addressed in this phase, including graphics optimization,
HTML and JavaScript coding, forms and other advanced scripting,
browser and platform compatibility, optimization for download speeds,
internal testing and quality assessment, and full beta launch on
the stage site. Tasks and products include protosite, HTML and JavaScript,
forms and advanced scripting, internal quality assessment, and beta
launch.
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Phase 5: Launch and Beyond
When full review and related updates have been completed, the Meta
tags (titles, search tags, etc.) are added and the site is "published"
to the Web. Ocotillo Design does not host Websites, but does arrange
hosting services through partners or through a host of your choice.
This phase also includes initial submission to search engines, development
of a maintenance plan and style guide, and creation of archives and
backup files, as appropriate. Tasks and products include Meta tags,
publishing site, search engine submissions, maintenance plan, style
guide, and archives/backup files.
Search Engine Optimization and Consulting
For an additional fee, Ocotillo Design manages search engine optimization
and consulting—including content and keyword development and
optimization, enhanced search engine and directory submission and
tracking, management of paid search engine inclusions, e-newsletter
sponsorship opportunity review and management, and related services
to ensure the Website reaches audiences as widely and quickly as
possible. Given the ever-increasing value in search engine placement,
and the fact that up to 85% of site visitors access your Website
directly from search engines and directories, search engine optimization
may be critical for your online success.
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Optional: Site Maintenance
Keeping your site fresh, up-to-date, and compatible with changing
technology is essential. Most Ocotillo Design proposals therefore
include 12 months of additional maintenance and reasonable upgrades,
including minor special promotions, event and press/news updates,
updates to seasonal product availability, etc. Tasks and products
include monthly meetings, monthly report with Website tracking information,
regular maintenance and updates, and minor special promotions (single-page
promotions, event announcements, etc.).
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Our phased approach to Website design and implementation is not
about tricks or gadgets—it's about a Website with as much
online sense of place as the community from which it has grown.
It's about pathing users to where they need to be, and bringing
them back again and again.
For further information, please contact
us.
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