Methodology

justinreynolds.co.uk applies a consistent methodology to each website development project. Here's an overview of the process we follow:

Step 1: Define site objectives

Before writing a line of code or sketching the page design, it is critical to establish the site's objectives. What information should it seek to communicate, and what services should it make available to its prospective users?

Step 2: Establish the site's technical requirements

Once the site objectives have been agreed upon, it's necessary to establish what web technologies need to be implemented to make them happen. For example, is a search engine required, or an ecommerce system? If so, which one?

Step 3: Organise the site structure

After establishing what information needs to go on to the site and the technical requirements, its necessary to decide what goes where: how to organise the different pieces into a coherent structure. At this point a site structure is worked out, specifying the sections and sub-sections into which content is to be organised.

Step 4: Develop page template wireframes

Once the site structure has been established page designs can be drafted. The optimal layout makes it as easy as possible for users to navigate their way through the site's information space and find what they're looking for, and presents the main subject of each page without unnecessary clutter. It's easiest and quickest to experiment with different page layouts using a wireframing tool such as Visio.

Step 5: Develop design composites

Once suitable designs have been sketched, we use Photoshop to develop design composites for each page type. The design composites fix the site's interface and aesthetic.

Step 6: Code using web standards

The next step is to translate each design composite into a web page template, using web standards compliant XHTML, CSS and JavaScript.

Step 7: Content management integration

Once the page templates have been coded, the site is integrated with a suitable content management system.

Step 8: Fill in the site content

Finally, the content management system is used to fill in the site's content. We also provide training in the use of the system that has been chosen.