Design Process

Frequently asked questions about TillSey Web Design’s design process

What is our first step when starting out?
➢ Once we have signed a simple service agreement, a domain name (web site address) and web hosting service need to be procured in order to begin web site development. If you do not already have a domain name registered, we will work together to select your web site address. Unless you have another preference, I use and recommend GoDaddy.com for domain name registration and web hosting services. You can create an online provider account at GoDaddy.com and purchase these services yourself with my guidance; Or if you prefer, I am happy to handle account setup and purchasing for you. If the latter, I will need client’s full credit card and billing information before I can proceed with account setup and purchasing.
How do we go about selecting the basic web site design?
➢ I use WordPress as a web site platform, which requires the use of a design theme. I will select a suitable and relevant theme for your particular web site. The theme is the foundational design “skin” (visual appearance) and layout for the web site. While the theme lays down the basic design and layout of the site, there is still much configuration, customization and styling that needs to be done to the default theme in order to produce the final customized and unique site design.
How much can a theme be customized? Can you code it to personalize it for my site design preferences?
➢ In most cases, I can customize and tweak the code in a WordPress theme to have it closely meet your design requests or preferences. There are some limitations on what can be done (as I am not a web programmer, but a web designer with some programming knowledge/skills), but the themes are quite flexible and customizable at a basic level. The basic physical layout and structure of the site is usually pretty fixed by the theme itself — but I can change colors, fonts, imagery, widget locations and content, header imagery, background imagery and other styling aspects to match most or all of your requests and preferences.
What will you need from me in terms of site content in order to begin developing my site?
➢ I will ask you to inform me as to exactly and specifically which content needs to be migrated from your current site to the new site (if you are doing a re-design); Or if your site is new, I would ask you to provide me with the following information before we get started and/or throughout the design process:
- Web page titles for your site’s pages.
- All content (images and copy) for web pages [text, images (owned or stock imagery), videos, etc.].
- Any specific information about placement, styling, and/or presentation of your content.
- Any other general information that you deem necessary for me to have and use in development of your web site.
- Business or professional logo, if desired.
- Social media URLs (web addresses).
How do you begin actually building the site? Will I be able to check in and preview the site progress so I can request changes or revisions along the way?
➢ I will first create the home page design. Once the home page is created, I will ask you to preview it and send me any feedback and requests for revisions to the home page design and/or content. Once you are happy with the overall design and layout of the home page, I will carry over those same design elements and concepts to create the remaining web site pages. The overall design process is iterative in nature, meaning that I will intermittently ask you to preview the site page/s on which I have recently completed work and at that time request that you send me feedback and revision requests based upon your preview. I will then work to incorporate those revisions and when completed, reach out to you again to request feedback. We will complete these “rounds of revisions” until your web site project is completed to your satisfaction.

Didn’t get your questions answered here?
Please feel free to email me with any questions about my design process.