Our Process

We have worked hard at developing a process for producing websites that maximizes efficiency and minimizes costs by preventing surprises. All projects require unique attention, and we always try to maintain a level of flexibility to deal with our clients' individual circumstances. Below, we've laid out the basic workflow of a website development project.

Analysis

This is the phase in which the sitemap, or information architecture for the website is developed. fivefivefour will work with you and any documentation you provide to define what information will be presented on the website, where it will be placed, and how it should be accessed by users of the website. We’ll also discuss your goals for the website so that these can be incorporated into all facets of the website development project.

The first milestone in this phase is the “sitemap”. A sitemap lays out the information architecture of the website in outline format. The sitemap will define what pages will exist on the website, and describe the information to be provided on each page.

The second milestone in the analysis phase of a project is the website “wireframe”. A wireframe is a design-neutral mock up of the website that will illustrate how users will navigate your site and what they will be presented with as they do. fivefivefour creates online wireframes with working navigational elements that will take you through the eventual pages of the website showing descriptions of page content. You will be able to click through this mock up of your website to get a sense of the user experience, seeing how and where information is accessed.

Having these foundational elements firmly in place before proceeding with the rest of the project ensures cohesiveness and consistency of vision during design and development. A solid sitemap and wireframe prevent changes of project scope further into site development, when those changes can become costly in both money and time.

Design

The purpose of the design phase is to incorporate your identity into a website design that is visually captivating, inviting customers to spend time exploring what your organization has to offer by making it easy for them to find what they're looking for.

Our design team will spend some time gathering information about your organization's history, current practices and goals for the future, and will listen to your ideas and hopes for your website. They will work from the sitemap and wireframe developed in the Analysis phase of the project, refining the placement of information within the visual structure of the website.

You will be presented with design mock ups, and have the opportunity to provide feedback throughout the design process.

Build

The Build phase entails taking the pieces developed in Analysis and Design, and making them function on the web.

During the build phase, fivefivefour will install and configure a content management system that will empower your staff, regardless of technical ability, to easily update and maintain the website. From within the content management system, you will be able to provide visitors with up-to-date information about your organization and its offerings. The content management system provides an extensible platform upon which additional functionality can be incorporated as your organization evolves and as new technology is developed.

Some examples of additional uses of the content management system include: collecting information about customers and managing customer relationships, sharing internal documents among your staff members, providing member-specific login areas, aggregating information from industry publications or distributing information from your website to other online resources, and the list goes on.

Testing and Training

The testing and training phase involves Front-end user experience testing, and CMS administration training and testing.

During the front-end user experience testing, you will be asked to go through the website and provide feedback to fivefivefour. It is during this phase that you will have the opportunity to ensure that navigation of the website is intuitive, and to finalize all design and presentation details.

During CMS administration training and testing, your staff will be trained to create and edit website content, and have the opportunity to ensure that the process of updating the site is properly functional and meets expectations for ease of use.

During this phase, fivefivefour will address all feedback from you and make appropriate changes.

Deploy

Hooray -- we made it! This phase involves moving the website files and database to the final hosting solution and, upon final testing, making the switch to the new system.