Overview
The following is a plan created to walk through the process of redesigning a website. It is broken up into 8 individual phases. The plan is designed so that a phase must be completed before moving on to the next phase. Each phase also includes a final step of reviewing and documenting.
Phase 1: Discovery
In Phase 1, the primary goal is to collect the data that will be used to move forward in the project. This includes analyzing the current website using web analytics and reviewing current web trends. It’s also important to interview the individuals and community who currently uses your website. During this phase, it’s important to not have too many assumptions, just a primary goal of information gathering. By the end of this phase, you should have a document that will help answer questions moving forward.
Phase 2: Define
In Phase 2, the data collected in the Discovery phase will be analyzed. The goal of this phase is to understand your audience. Create your targeted groups and define the goals and objectives of the new website. This is the most important phase in the process. Once the new website is defined, every decision that is made moving forward is based on fulfilling the goals and objectives that are defined in this phase.
Phase 3: Wireframe
Now that everything is defined, the actual work begins. In this phase, start to organize the content and information architecture. Start work on your style guide and wireframe some templates for the new redesigned website. By the end of this stage, you should have the general site hierarchy and wireframes of important areas of the website.
Phase 4: Design and Prototype
Phase 4 is a continuation of the wireframes in phase 3. At this point, a designer should create full color mockups of the new website. Also, prototypes of important areas of the website should be created. This includes page flows, form functions and any other user interaction with the website.
Phase 5: ROI
Now that all the groundwork has been completed, it’s time to do one final check to make sure this redesign is the right choice. Create a cost-benefit analysis that looks at the Return on Investment of a redesigned website. At this point you’ll know if it’s worth redesigning or if you are looking at a simple re-alignment of the current website.
Phase 6: Build and Test
Once everything is approved, the full development of the website continues. Systems are configured and a development website is created. This includes cleaning up content and coding the newly redesigned website. Once the website is developed, test, test and test. This includes bringing in people and watching them navigate your redesigned website.
Phase 7: Launch
Once given the final go-ahead, it’s time to launch the new website. This includes more than just pushing code live. Communicate to your current visitors that a new website will be coming and on a scheduled date, push the code live.
Phase 8: Closeout
At this point, the redesign is nearly complete. Monitor the analytics of the new website and respond to visitor inquiries. Don’t panic if you hear some bad feedback, but don’t ignore it either. If you did your homework, your new website should please most of your visitors.
