Web Design Workflow: Stages and Key Advantages

Grayson Kemper
7/2/2021

Developing an effective web design workflow helps your business define and align on key stages in the design process: From planning through implementation and launch. It also can outline design priorities and approaches to ensure a solid user and customer experience for your website. 

Updated May 12, 2022

Your website is usually the first encounter that digital platform customers have with your company. That’s why it pays to invest in how your website looks and works for your brand. Your website should be engaging and easy to navigate. The commands and menu are intuitive to use.  

Learn more about how websites are becoming key for businesses in recent data from Top Design Firms. 

Not all websites, however, are created equal. Great-looking websites don’t just make themselves. They are the products of a well-designed web design workflow. 

This article breaks down a well-formatted web design workflow according to its:

What Is a Web Design Workflow? 

A web design workflow is a series of procedures that make up all the courses of action taken when creating a website. 

It includes both the whole scope of the design process: the prep before starting the process and all the tweaks and improvements done after the website has been launched. 

Defined Stages of a Web Design Workflow

There are key critical stages of development during the web design workflow: 

  • Planning: During the planning stage, the web design team brainstorms and identifies the website’s parameters, objectives, and target audience. For web designers, this stage is an opportunity to align with clients on anticipated web design challenges and expectations for the final product. 
  • Implementation (Design + Development): The implementation stages are where the website starts to take form. This is when to draw up sitemaps and wireframes, create content, and add visual elements. At the end of this stage, you can see how your website will look and function. 
  • Testing and Launch: The test and launch stages are the final stages. It's geared toward discovering if the website is working as it should and how usable it is. At the test and launch stages, you can iterate and revisit any bugs. 

 

Stages of Web Design Process

Source: Big Web Media

When everything is running as it should, then the site can be launched. However, launching the website is not just about putting it online. After the design stages, your key responsibility is to keep the site up and running so that it continues to drive value for your business. 

Advantages of Using a Web Design Workflow 

The key advantages of using a web design workflow include:

  • Streamlined Web Design Process: When your design team recognizes your design timeline and structure, the process of creating the website will run smoother. 
  • Easy Delegation: Using a workflow allows you to divide a project into manageable tasks. This makes it easier to delegate. 
  • Monitoring and Evaluation: Thanks to the workflow, it's easier to identify at what stage the development you currently resides in. A project manager can also monitor and evaluate progress at a glance.  

Designing a workflow for your website will keep your project seamless and organized. 

Key Techniques to Integrate Into Your Web Design Workflow

The following are 5 techniques that can improve the user’s experience for your web design workflow.

  • Simple design and navigation: Do not overwhelm users by bombarding them with irrelevant information. Structure your graphic design around what the user wants to know. Also ensure that the site is usable and efficient. The last thing you want is for people to not be able to navigate your website because they can’t figure out how to use it. Make sure all buttons and calls-to-action on your site are clearly marked and work as they should.
  • Align your website with your brand: Align the design of your website consistent with your branding kit: Customers should be able to identify your website and set it apart from the website of your competitors. 
  • Cater to your target audience: If your website fails to sustain the attention of the users, chances are, they will simply leave your site.  Your website should engage the interest and attention of the user. The content of the website should both be informative and entertaining.
  • Use animation: Animated visuals convey a lot of information through an engaging interface. They can also be highly entertaining. Having web animation can be the deciding factor between a user staying on your site and going to another. Video animation studios can guide and provide you with through creating and implementing animated visuals on your site. 
     

A Web Design Workflow will Streamline Your Site's Development and Launch 

If you wish to attract more clients you must have a website. More than ever before, when potential customers are looking for a service or a product their first go-to is the internet.

This is why you must have a website. Using the web design workflow helps you create a website that not only you want but one which your customers need and regularly use.

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author

Grayson Kemper

Content & Editorial Manager, Clutch
Grayson Kemper is a Content & Editorial Manager Manager at Clutch. He manages content and editorial teams and researches SEO, emerging technologies, and business services topics. 
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