Behind the Scenes: How We Collaborate with Clients on Custom Website Designs

Collaborating with clients on custom designs involves a comprehensive, transparent process that ensures both parties are aligned on expectations and project scope. This article delves into our well-tested and evolved approach, from the initial sales meeting to the post-launch monitoring, to provide an insider's view of how we create custom designs that meet our clients' needs.

Initial Meeting : Ensuring a Mutual Fit

The first step in our collaboration process is an initial meeting. This meeting is crucial for determining if we are a good fit for each other. During this session, we discuss the client’s vision, goals, and expectations. We also explain our design philosophy, process, and capabilities. This mutual understanding helps establish a strong foundation for the project.

Initial Detailed Scoping Workshop

Following the initial meeting, we conduct a Detailed Scoping Workshop. This workshop typically lasts a few hours and involves in-depth discussions about the project’s scope. We take extensive notes to capture all the client’s requirements, preferences, and any specific constraints. This detailed understanding helps us create a comprehensive project plan and a rudimentry site-plan of the pages required.

Creating Initial Look & Feel Designs

Based on the insights gathered from the scoping workshop, we develop initial look and feel designs. These designs usually include the home page and a few top-level pages. We then schedule a meeting to present these concepts to the client, discussing the rationale behind each design choice and gathering feedback to refine the concepts further.

Gathering Client Content and Imagery

With the initial designs approved, the next step is to gather content and imagery from the client. This content forms the backbone of the website and must align with the overall design and brand strategy. We provide guidelines to the client to ensure that the content and images meet the necessary quality and format standards.

Developing the Complete Design Solution

Using Figma, we create the complete design solution for the website. This comprehensive design includes all pages, interactive elements, and responsive views. We then meet with the client to review the designs, discuss any desired changes, and ensure that the final design meets their expectations.

Client Sign-Off on Designs

After making any necessary adjustments based on client feedback, we seek final sign-off on the designs. This approval signifies that the client is satisfied with the visual and functional aspects of the design, allowing us to proceed to the development phase.

Development of Designs

Once the designs are approved, our development team begins the process of transforming the designs into a fully functional website. This phase involves coding, setting up the content management system, and ensuring that all design elements are accurately implemented.

Post-Development Review Meeting

Upon completing the development, we schedule a meeting to review the website with the client. This meeting provides an opportunity to discuss any design changes that may have arisen during the development process and ensure that the website meets the client’s expectations.

Client Training and Content Addition

We offer comprehensive training sessions to the client, enabling them to manage and update the website content independently. During this phase, we also add any remaining content provided by the client, ensuring that the website is fully populated and ready for launch.

Final Overview and Testing

Before going live, we conduct a thorough final overview and testing of the website. This step ensures that all functionalities work correctly, the design is consistent across all devices, and there are no errors or issues that could affect the user experience.

Going Live

With all preparations complete, we proceed to launch the website. We coordinate with the client to ensure a smooth transition and minimize any potential downtime during the go-live process.

Post-Launch Monitoring and Tweaks

After the website is live, we continue to monitor its performance and make small tweaks and changes as needed. This post-launch phase ensures that the website functions optimally and meets the client’s ongoing needs.

Conclusion

Our collaborative process ensures that each custom design project is executed with precision and transparency. By involving the client at every stage, we create designs that are not only visually appealing but also aligned with their business goals. This meticulous approach guarantees a successful partnership and a high-quality end product.

If you are interested in taking your website to the next level and break away from Templated solutions, then talk to us today to see if we are a good fit together.