Web Site Design Construction Process

Also see our article on Design Process

Putting the Web Design Together

Previously we discussed the process in designing the overall look of your web site. Now that our business client has approved the mock-up, we are ready to start putting the pieces together into a functioning web site with navigation, text, images and graphics.

In our case, CSS (Cascading Style Sheets) is the glue that puts everything into place and holds it there. We use CSS to specify which fonts will be used, the various size of the fonts, the placement of the various columns, graphics, colors, backgrounds and navigation elements.

Many web site designers still use tables. We prefer layers and divs because they load faster and can be positioned better with the use of CSS. However, there are certain times when a table is the best way to present columnar data on a web site; in those cases, that's exactly what we use.

Navigation - the Key to Success

Studies of users actually using web sites show that some site visitors leave web sites in frustration because they can't find the information they are seeking; they feel they are digging through layers and layers of pages, only to be disappointed and come up empty handed.

Easy web site navigation puts a user where they want to go within no more than 3 clicks of their mouse. This is the key. With web sites that contain less than 20 pages, this is fairly easy to achieve. But as a site grows larger and larger, navigation planning becomes very important. Often this requires assigning web pages to categories and listing the categories with an additional sub-menu (such as a drop down menu) that provides additional choices.

Content

Unless a web design client hires us to write web site content,the client supplies the content to us for placement in the web pages in either plain text format or in Microsoft Word. We break up content with images for better readability and allows the reader's eyes a rest.

We often also help the client optimize their content for search engines. The key here is to ensure the content provides the information web users need in a format they can read, while telling search engines the important subjects addressed at your web site.

Web Site Project Completed

Once we complete your web site project, we run through the site and make sure the links work properly. However, our checking is not enough. We also ask that you carefully review each page and check each link so that we are both sure your web site works properly.

Because we may rearrange your content for readability, it is very important that you read all the content and make sure we have not altered a meaning, definition or information you provided. Together, we can ensure your web site is error free and full of useful information for your web site visitors.

If you need a great business web site, KatsueyDesignWorks is the place to start - and end - your search for a web site designer.

We provide:

• Custom Designs
• Custom Graphics
• CSS
• Search Ready
• Great Service
• Economical Prices
• Modern Browser Compliant