Planning your web project takes time and lots of research, but once you’re done, the real work begins. However, most people don’t really know what should be happening during their web projects. Most follow an intricate, yet fluid, construction and execution process. In this article, we’ll go over what you should expect.
Gathering content and information for your application is where you’ll start. Once you and the developer have collected or outlined what content you’ll need, a mock-up or prototype of the application should be made. This prototype is a basic model of functionality, user experience, and content layout. During this stage of the process, your developer should be making modifications to the prototype to ensure the application will perform correctly. Any issues or concerns regarding content and application layout should be addressed before the next step: Application Design.
Designing your application is different from Information Design. During Information Design, your application prototype is paired with an outline of possible information or content as a starting point. Once you get to Application Design, the developer will create the look and feel for the application. This is heavily influenced by user experience and navigation. As the application is being designed, your developer should provide examples of what the application will look like with both the design, graphics, information, and content.
The Application Design phase is the perfect time to share your project with others who may be using the application in the future. Their feedback and input can help you and the developer make any necessary adjustments before moving into Application Construction.
Once the application’s design and content have been finalized, your application is ready for construction! Application Construction builds the wireframe of the program and combines the entire framework with the application’s design elements and content. Your developer’s main goal during construction is to recreate everything he or she designed during the Application Design step, but that may not be the case. As the elements come together, adjustments may need to be made along the way on both the frontend and backend of the application. As your developer works through construction, it is important to pay close attention to the details of the application because after this step, the application will be complete. Any concerns, bugs or issues should be addressed before this part of the project is finished.
After your application is completed, the work isn’t over! Your web developer should offer services that track the progress and usage of your application. As users interact with your application, you should receive information regarding who is using it, what they are doing with it, and any other data that is tracked. As you learn more about your users and their needs, your web developer should update your content and application for optimal performance. This maintenance plan should come with archival abilities and backup any data stored on your application.
Designing and building your application should be an easy process for you as long as you have the right developer. However it is hard to say exactly how long it’ll take for your project to be complete. As you go through the process, you should have a pretty clear idea where you are in the project and what to expect next. But what do you do if the project isn’t turning out the way you had planned? Stay tuned to our next blog where we’ll cover breaking up with web developer before it’s too late. In the meantime, we’d love to hear your thoughts and learn more about the web projects and applications you’re interested in starting. Connect with us below and let’s talk.