Developing a Design Plan for a Web Site

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Developing a Design Plan for a Web Site
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INTRODUCTION

• To develop a solid design plan for your Web site,
  you should follow six major steps.

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Define the Purpose
Identify the Audience
Plan the Content
Plan the Structure
Plan the Web Pages
Plan the Navigation
Follow these six steps to develop a solid design
plan for your Web Site.
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Step 1 Define the Purpose

• Decide on a Topic for the Web Site
• Plan around the interests of the designer
• Brainstorm by listing five possible topics
• Choose the top two possibilities
• Decide
• List the goals of the Web Site
• Communicate information? Educate? Entertain? Sell
  a product or service?
• Include a purpose statement that communicates the
  intention of the Web site

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ExamplePERSONAL WEB SITEDESIGN PLANStep 1
Define the Purpose

• Purpose Statement
• In this Website, I will introduce various things
  that I have learned in my class, Information
  Processing. I will also include my interests.
• Tip Defining the purpose of a Web site requires
  a distinct site topic that is neither too broad
  nor too narrow, and a clear understanding of what
  the site should accomplish.

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Step 2 Identify the Audience

• Identify your audience and consider specific
  goals and needs.
• Who would be most interested in your message, and
  why?
• What are they expecting to gain from your Web
  site?
• Are they seeking entertainment or answers?
• Do they need quick facts or in-depth
  explanations?
• Are they expecting the latest technology or are
  they intimidated by it?
• Are they internationalrequiring research of
  cultural differences, norms, and customs.
• Tip To create a Web site with a high degree of
  usability, identify the goals and needs of its
  audience.
• Tip Refer to your objective constantly during
  the planning and creating phases, include content
  that will contribute to the stated objectives.

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Step 3 Plan the Content

• Content
• How effectively will it contribute to the
  objectives of your Web site.
• Choose content that adds value, that is,
• Content that is relative
• Informative
• Timely
• Accurate and high-quality
• Useable

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Step 3 Plan the Content

• Text
• Abbreviate the amount of text significantly.
• Chunk information into logical sections for
  readability.
• Add hyperlinks to explanatory or detailed
  information.
• Use the active voice and a friendly tone.
• Remove transitional words and phrases such as, as
  stated previously, and as a result.
• Do not use Web clichés, such as Click here to
  register. Instead, use Register online.

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Step 3 Plan the Content

• Photographs
• Can powerfully communicate and motivate. Select
  reliable, high-quality photographs that will
  further the Web site objectives.

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Step 3 Plan the Content

• Animations
• Used to attract attention and enliven Web pages
• Use them subtly and sparingly
• Limit the use of animation for effectiveness
• Audio
• Utilized as an extremely effective, low-bandwidth
  alternative to video.
• Incorporate to personalize a message, enhance
  recall, set a mood, or sell a product.

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Step 3 Plan the Content

• Video
• Incorporate powerful components of movement and
  sound.
• Problem-extremely large size of video files.

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Step 4 Plan the Structure

• Outline Your Web Site
• Three types of structural themes
• Linear/tutorial structure organizes and presents
  information in a specific order.
• Random structure presents information without a
  specific order.
• A hierarchical structure organizes information
  into categories and subcategories.

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Linear/tutorial structure controls user
navigation progresses one Web page at a time
Home Page
Step 4
Step 1
Step 3
Step 2

• Used for a training Web site
• Ensures that steps will not be missed or
  performed out of sequence
• Info. viewed in a historical or chronological
  order.

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Random structure allows visitors to navigate
pages in any preferred order
Home Page

• From the home page
• Visitors can choose any other Web page freely
  according to their interests.
• Used for small Web sites only.

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Hierarchical structure organizes info. into
categories and subcategories
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Hierarchical structure organizes info. into
categories and subcategories.

• Your Web site, for example, might structure its
  information as follows
• A category of the type of music you like with
  subcategories of the individual bands.

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Other Strategies

• Functions of Web Pages
• A home page is the first Web page your visitor
  will see. It should
• Indicate clearly the kind of Web site they have
  accessed.
• Draw visitors into your Web site
• Establish the visual identity of your Web site.
• Be different enough to stand out as the initial
  Web page but connect visually with secondary Web
  pages.

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Other Strategies

• Functions of Web Pages
• Secondary Pageconnects and combines the Web site
  and establishes continuity within the Web site.
  It should
• Shows a definite visual connection with the home
  page and other secondary pages
• Provide a link to the home page.

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Other Strategies

• Titling Your Web Pages
• Make the title of each Web page attention
  getting, relevant, and accurate
• The title may be the first element your visitor
  sees as the Web page loads.
• Give Web pages accurate and pertinent titles that
  will draw the attention of visitors.

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Class Assignment

• See Web site