A Cartoon Guide to the Web Design Process

We're working on a website right now which we expect to launch this month. Actually, we're working on more than one, but the owner of one of these sites has graciously allowed us to use hers as an example.

We'll go into more detail as we progress, but first I'd like to share with you a Cartoon Guide to the overall process of getting a web site online. If you've never done this before, you can get a good idea of how it works from this.


First, the client, Myra, realized that her business needed a web site. She tried out a few DIY possibilities, but in the end she contacted us to get her dreams to become a reality.



Project Manager Rosie discovered what Myra wanted and needed, did a bit of research, contacted a selection of possible crew members, and wrote up a proposal. The proposal went into details about how much the website would cost and how long it would take, and also listed the things Myra would need to provide for us before we could begin.



Copywriter Rebecca talked with Myra, did some research to make sure that the site will be easy for Myra's customers to find online, figured out the information architecture, and then wrote up the text for the website.



Meanwhile, Graphic Artist Jay created a logo. Jay designed three completely different looks, Myra chose one, and then Jay made a few changes to get the logo looking exactly the way Myra wanted it.



Web Designer Tom took the logo and the content once both were approved, along with a couple of technical requests from the webmaster, and he's building a website for Myra. She'll get plenty of chances to make sure it looks the way she wants, and Rebecca and Tom will work together to make sure the design and content are just right for search engines and for humans.



Webmaster Shan registered the domain name and will get the site up online once it's finished. He hosts the site, so Myra knows who to go to if she needs anything.



Once the site is live, Linkbuilder Josepha will develop a strategy to get the new site visible on the web, using a variety of white-hat methods to gain links. She'll also help Myra plan her social media involvement.

Rosie will make sure that everything is working right, and check back in with Myra to see that all her needs have been met and everything is going well. She'll also make sure that all the different companies and individuals are paid and properly credited for their work.

Your web site might have more or fewer people, or a different workflow, but this is basically how it's done.