My Process

Phase 1: Concept and Consultation
I start with a discussion on the scope of the project and provide a solid foundation before we begin. By clearly defining the concept and goals of the project, I am able to map out all requirements before starting. This saves the client valuable time and money.

Phase 2: Drafts
I then create sketches of the layouts, which are turned into drafts for review and approval before moving on to the next phase of the process. These drafts help flush out major design ideas and requirements specified by the client in the first phase.

Phase 3: Design & Implementation
Once the draft is approved, we move onto the design and implementation phase. The drafts are built into working prototypes using CSS and XHTML. After a second or third round of reviews and edits, the design is polished and ready for implementation.

Although the project is tested through each stage of the build, this stage involves a complete usability test across all platforms and browsers, checking for cross-platform functionality and appearance. I use a combination of my own testing environment and browser camera to do a complete check. After testing is complete, we are then ready for launch!

Phase 4: Monitoring & Maintenance
Once the site is launched, I do a thorough link check and monitor the site for at least seven days to 10 days to squash any potential problems that may come up. Once the monitoring period is over, we can set up a maintenance plan if desired.

Although I follow this process closely for all design projects, it will depend on the particular project and some steps may not be necessary.