When I approach a real client web design project, my process is structured to ensure clear communication, efficient execution, and a result that truly meets the client's business goals. While specific steps can vary slightly depending on the project's scope and the client's needs, here's a typical "behind the scenes" look at my web design process:

My Web Design Process: Behind the Scenes of a Real Client Project
Phase 1: Discovery & Strategy (The Foundation)

This is arguably the most critical phase, as it sets the entire direction for the project.

Initial Consultation & Project Brief:

Goal: Understand the client's vision, business, and project requirements.

Action: I schedule an in-depth meeting (virtual or in-person) with the client. I ask open-ended questions about their business model, target audience, brand identity, competitors, desired website functionalities, current pain points, and long-term goals.

Deliverable: A comprehensive project brief summarizing all gathered information, key objectives, and success metrics. This acts as our shared understanding.

Research & Analysis:

Goal: Gain a deep understanding of the client's industry, target users, and competitive landscape.

Action:

Competitor Analysis: I analyze direct and indirect competitors' websites to identify their strengths, weaknesses, and opportunities for differentiation.

Target Audience Research: I delve into the client's ideal customer demographics, psychographics, online behavior, and pain points that the website needs to address.

Keyword Research (Basic): I perform initial keyword research to understand how potential customers might search for the client's services/products, informing content strategy later.

Deliverable: A research summary document outlining insights and recommendations.

Sitemap & User Flow Development:

Goal: Define the website's structure and how users will navigate through it.

Action: Based on the brief and research, I create a sitemap (a hierarchical list of all website pages) and develop user flows (diagrams illustrating typical user journeys through the site to achieve specific goals).

Deliverable: Sitemap and User Flow diagrams. This is presented to the client for approval.

Phase 2: Design & Prototyping (Bringing Ideas to Life)

Once the structure is solid, we move into the visual and interactive aspects.

Wireframing (Low-Fidelity):

Goal: Sketch out the layout and functionality of each key page without focusing on visual design.

Action: I create grayscale wireframes (digital or hand-drawn, depending on complexity) for key pages (e.g., Homepage, About Us, Services, Contact, Product Page). This focuses on content placement, user interface elements, and calls to action.

Tool: Figma, Balsamiq, or even pen and paper.

Deliverable: Wireframes for client review and feedback.

Mood Board & Style Guide (Visual Direction):

Goal: Define the overall look, feel, and brand personality of the website.

Action: I create a mood board featuring color palettes, typography, imagery styles, and UI patterns that align with the client's brand and target audience. This is often followed by a preliminary style guide.

Deliverable: Mood Board and/or preliminary Style Guide for client approval. This ensures we're aligned on aesthetics before diving into high-fidelity design.

Mockups (High-Fidelity UI Design):

Goal: Create the detailed visual design of key website pages.

Action: Using the approved wireframes and style guide, I design high-fidelity mockups of the main pages. This includes all visual elements: exact colors, typography, imagery, icons, and interactive elements.

Tool: Figma or Sketch.

Deliverable: High-fidelity mockups (often presented as static images or a clickable prototype) for client review and detailed feedback. This is an iterative process until approval.

Prototyping (Interaction Design):

Goal: Simulate user interaction and navigation before development begins.

Action: I create interactive prototypes from the approved mockups, allowing the client to click through the website and experience the user flow firsthand. This helps identify any usability issues early on.

Tool: Figma, InVision.

Deliverable: Clickable prototype.

Phase 3: Development (Building the Website)

With the design approved, it's time to code.

Frontend Development:

Goal: Translate the approved UI/UX designs into functional, responsive web pages.

Action: I write clean, semantic HTML, implement styling with CSS (often using frameworks like Tailwind CSS or Bootstrap for efficiency), and add interactivity with JavaScript. A strong focus is placed on responsiveness across various devices (desktop, tablet, mobile).

Tools: VS Code, Git, a modern frontend framework/library (e.g., React, Vue, or plain HTML/CSS/JS depending on project needs).

Backend Development (if applicable):

Goal: Build the server-side logic, database, and APIs required for dynamic functionalities (e.g., user authentication, content management, e-commerce features).

Action: I use technologies like Node.js, Python/Django, or PHP/Laravel to build the server, connect to databases (e.g., PostgreSQL, MongoDB), and create APIs that the frontend can consume.

Content Integration:

Goal: Populate the website with the actual text, images, and videos.

Action: This can happen concurrently with development or after initial page structures are built. I work with the client to integrate their provided content, ensuring it fits the design and enhances the user experience. Sometimes, I assist with content optimization for SEO.

Phase 4: Testing & Optimization (Ensuring Quality & Performance)

Before launch, rigorous testing is crucial.

Functional Testing:

Goal: Verify that all features and functionalities work as intended.

Action: I test forms, navigation, buttons, integrations (e.g., payment gateways, CRMs), and dynamic content to ensure everything functions correctly.

Responsiveness Testing:

Goal: Ensure the website looks and performs well on all major devices and screen sizes.

Action: I test on various browsers (Chrome, Firefox, Safari, Edge) and device emulators/actual devices to check for layout issues and responsiveness.

Performance Optimization:

Goal: Improve website speed and loading times.

Action: I optimize images, minify code (CSS, JS), leverage browser caching, and consider content delivery networks (CDNs) to enhance performance.

SEO Audit (Basic):

Goal: Ensure the website is technically optimized for search engines.

Action: I check for proper title tags, meta descriptions, alt text for images, clean URLs, and a well-structured sitemap.

Client Review & Final Adjustments:

Goal: Get final approval from the client.

Action: The completed website is presented to the client for a final comprehensive review. Any minor tweaks or adjustments are made based on their feedback.

Phase 5: Deployment & Launch (Going Live!)

The exciting moment!

Server Setup & Deployment:

Goal: Prepare the hosting environment and deploy the website files.

Action: I configure the hosting server (e.g., AWS, DigitalOcean, Netlify, Vercel), set up domains and SSL certificates, and deploy the frontend and backend code.

Go-Live Checklist:

Goal: Ensure all pre-launch tasks are completed.

Action: I follow a detailed checklist including: DNS propagation, Google Analytics setup, Google Search Console verification, broken link checks, and final cross-browser testing.

Launch!

Goal: Make the website publicly accessible.

Action: The website goes live!

Phase 6: Post-Launch Support & Maintenance (Ongoing Partnership)

My commitment doesn't end at launch.

Monitoring & Bug Fixing:

Goal: Ensure the website remains stable and functional.

Action: I monitor website performance, uptime, and promptly address any bugs or issues that arise.

Training & Handoff:

Goal: Empower the client to manage their website content (if a CMS is used).

Action: I provide training sessions and documentation on how to use the CMS (e.g., WordPress, Strapi) for content updates.

Ongoing Maintenance & Updates (Optional Retainer):

Goal: Keep the website secure, updated, and performing optimally.

Action: For many clients, I offer ongoing maintenance packages that include security updates, software updates, regular backups, and minor content changes.

This structured approach helps me manage client expectations, deliver high-quality websites, and build long-term relationships based on trust and results. Each phase builds upon the previous one, ensuring a logical progression from initial idea to a live, successful web presence.