For the past five plus years, I have been the sole designer for a variety of nonprofit, foundations, and political clients. This has allowed me to take responsibility for every stage of the design process. I work hand-in-hand with the two developers on the team, from initial meetings with the stakeholders to hi-fi mockups to the build out and launch of the website.
Although each client need, timeline, and budget is different, this is my typical (ideal) design process for a website project.
Discovery and Research:
Define Goals and Objectives: Clearly understand the purpose and goals of the design project. Define what success looks like.
User Research: Interview stakeholders to understand user needs, behaviors, and pain points.
Competitive Analysis: Research competitors to identify industry trends, best practices, and areas for innovation.
Ideation and Conceptualization:
Brainstorming: Generate a variety of design ideas through collaborative brainstorming sessions with the client.
Information Architecture and User Flows:
Sitemap: Develop a site map or user flow to define the structure and hierarchy of information.
Low-Fidelity Mockups:
Initial Design Drafts: Develop low-fidelity mockups using design tools. Focus on the overall layout and structure.
Feedback Loop: Share these drafts for stakeholders feedback. Iterate based on the received feedback.
High-Fidelity Mockups:
Detailed Visual Design: Develop high-fidelity mockups with a focus on visual elements, including colors, typography, and imagery.
Design System Integration: Ensure consistency by incorporating design system elements.
Feedback Integration: Present mocks to stakeholders, explaining all decisions. Use feedback to refine the design.
Iterations: Often this includes working meetings with the client and adjusting the design on the fly.
Client Review: Conduct a final design review with stakeholders to ensure alignment with project goals.
Design ‘Handoff’:
Documentation: Prepare design specifications and documentation for developers, including style guides and asset libraries.
Collaboration with Development Team: Collaborate closely with the development team throughout the build to address any questions or concerns.
Design Review:
Build Review: Review final build with the developer before handing off to the client.
It is very important to me that there is a thoughtful and user-centric design from concept to the final high-fidelity mockups, with opportunities for feedback and refinement at each stage.
When a client comes to us with either no brand or a need for a design refresh, I take them through a very similar conceptual journey, and implement this within the project. Whether it be a new logo and brand, or just an update of fonts and colors, my process remains the same.