Building a Web SiteBuilding a Web SiteBuilding a Web SiteBuilding a Web SiteRobert Benard Robert Benard

Mott Community CollegeMott Community College

Objectives

• Name three phases to building a web site• Explain what breakdown is• Recognize some of the parts of a web site that

need to be constructed• Explain why web site construction tasks need

to happen in a particular order• Name three kinds of testing that take place

after the web site is built

The Three Phases

There are three phases to building a web site.

Phase 1: Planning a Web Site

Phase 2: Constructing a Web Site

Phase 3: Testing a Web Site

Phase 1: Planning a Web Site

Planning a web site is just like planning to build a house. If we just start creating pages, it is just like building rooms to a house without planning … Is a kitchen needed? Should there be a door to enter the bathroom? Is a 32 car garage a good idea?

Phase 1: Planning a Web Site(The Blue Print)

There are items that need to address when designing any web site.

1. Audience: Who is it for?2. Message: What is it about?3. Purpose: What is it for?4. Organization: How is it put together?5. Navigation: How do you use it?6. Usability: Is it easy to use?7. Look: What does it look like?

Phase 1: Planning a Web Site(The Breakdown)

Just like a builder, a web designer needs to offer a breakdown of what is to be done and the cost. Our book offers a great chart to help with this.

Phase 1: Planning a Web Site(The Breakdown)

A working example would look like this

Phase 2: Constructing a Web SiteConstructing a web site is just like constructing a house. You

must know how to select, measure, and cut materials. The materials of a web site are text, pictures, and programming. Both houses and web sites involve time and effort as well. The tools of designing a web site are graphics programs, development tools, programming languages, and quite possibly outside sources such as a photographer and a “web theme” provider.

Phase 2: Constructing a Web Site(order of events)

When constructing a web site, you want to follow an order of events. Using project management software or simply creating a list is a great way of making sure your project is on focus.

In my experience, I have found the following to be the best way of constructing a website

1. Meet with customer and make plan (collect ½ down)2. Produce theme for approval (within 2 weeks of first meeting)3. Start working on site and collect content & images from

customer utilizing already agreed on theme (2 weeks depending on site size and complexity)

4. Meet with customer and go over web site for changes5. Make changes to web site (within 1 week of last meeting)6. Collect final payment THEN make web site go live

Phase 2: Constructing a Web Site(why?)

It is important to follow an order and make your customer (or boss) aware of what your plan is. This way, everyone is on the same page for deadlines. Showing your customer (or boss) your work as you proceed is incredibly important because web design is not just the nuts and bolts of placing content online … It is art and everyone is a critic!

Phase 3: Testing a Web SiteTesting a web site is a crucial part ignored by many web

builders. Imagine a house builder not verifying if a door opens… you would be pretty upset and concerned when you can’t open your bedroom door, right!?

Before showing a client or boss your website, it is important to test for errors. This may require you to have others use your website as well (in programming, programmers are the worst testers … they use things exactly how they were designed … End users DO NOT!)

Phase 3: Testing a Web Site(The three types)

There are three types of testing …

1. Content testing: is everything correct?2. Functional testing: does it do what it is supposed to do?3. Usability testing: is it easy to use? *

* Though you may design the best looking web site ever, usability is key. If an end user can’t navigate, your web site is useless.

Conclusion

• There are three phases to building a web site:1. Planning, 2. Constructing, 3. Testing

• It is important to breakdown your project before starting so you have a plan

• Always follow a standard order for constructing a web site. Houses do a lot better when the basement is in the ground and not above the roof!

• Testing is crucial to a web site. Content, function, and usability are all factors that need to be tested.