Web design and web development are two different phases in the process of building a website. Both matter for the success of the project, but they call for different skills and goals. In this blog post we briefly walk through the phases between web design and web development.
1. Planning phase
The first phase of building a website is planning. In this phase you define your project goals, map out what you want and set the scope of your project. You’ll also need to settle your budget, timeline and resources for the project.
2. Web design
Once the planning phase is done, the web design phase can start. In this phase a web designer creates the visual elements of your website, including the layout, colour scheme, typography and images. The designer puts all of this into a bite-sized design to show you how the website will look and work.
3. Content creation
While the web designer works on the visual elements of your website, you can quietly start creating content for your site. That might mean writing copy for your pages, making videos or images and collecting customer testimonials. The better you prepare this phase, the sooner you can launch!
4. Web development
Once the design phase is done and everyone has shaken hands on it, the development phase can start. In this phase web developers take the designs and turn them into a working website. They write the code that brings the website to life and make sure it’s responsive, secure and accessible.
5. Testing phase
Before your website launches, it has to be tested thoroughly to make sure it’s free of bugs and works properly. In the testing phase, developers test the website’s functionality and user experience. Any issues found during testing get tackled and fixed.
6. Launch!
Once testing is done, your website is ready to launch. In the launch phase, your website moves from a staging environment to a live environment with the right DNS records. It’s an exciting phase, because it marks the official start of your website and your online presence is up and running.
Finally.
Building a website runs through several phases, from planning and web design to content creation, development, testing and launch. Every phase is crucial to the success of the project and takes specific skills and expertise. Understand these phases and you can plan your website project better, and make sure it wraps up successfully and with a smile.
Key takeaways
- Building a website runs through six phases, from planning to launch
- Planning sets goals, budget and timeline before the design starts
- Start creating content during the design phase for a faster launch
- Testing before launch prevents bugs and a poor user experience
- Every phase takes its own skills and matters just as much for success
