Design Process

What Should I Expect During The Watersweb Design Process?

Website design is a process centered around a relationship between a web designer and a client. Lack of planning or communication can quickly prevent a project from being completed in time — if at all.

With this in mind, we have put together an outline of our design process. Understanding our process will help you understand what we are doing and how far from completion were are. It will also help you understand your role in preparing your website for the public.

Below is the basic process:

1. Client requests services via our quote request form or the helpdesk.

2. Michelle will contact you via email, helpdesk or scheduled phone call to discuss the project details.

3. We will send you an estimate for approval, based on the specifics discussed in our previous communications.

4. Ask any questions you have, then sign and return the estimate.

5. We will send you a contract that includes our full web design agreement and site design specifications. If it isn’t mentioned in the contract, it isn’t included. Payment plan is also included in the contract. PLEASE READ THE CONTRACT.

6. Sign and fax contract to Watersweb. We will invoice you for the first scheduled payment. You can also mail the contract and a first payment check. However, work will not begin on the project until the check clears the bank. We do accept Paypal and credit cards for this reason.

7. We will begin work on your project, starting with design mockups, if applicable. You must send us any graphics to be used in the template design prior to initiation of this phase of the project. Failure to do so will result in your project being delayed.

8. We will create the number of mockups agreed to in your contract for you to choose from. You can then choose a mockup and request any changes you’d like to have made. This is a great time to tell us if you aren’t happy with what you see.

9. Next, we will complete your requested changes and submit our mockups for your second round of approval. If you aren’t happy with what you see, this is a good time to let us know. Remember, we can’t give you what you want, if you don’t tell us.

10. Depending on your contract, you may have a third round of approvals. If not (or if you have completed the third round), you will be asked to approve the mockup. You’ll need to sign the approval form and fax it back to us. During this time, we will invoice you for a portion of the project payment, if called for in your contract.

11. After we have your design approved, and you have sent us your content, including photographs and copy, we will begin installing software, integrating your design and plugging in the content you provide (some projects may require the client to add content to the site, which keeps costs down).

12. If the scope of the project changes during this process, we will ask you to sign a change order, which will state the change specifics and any change in pricing required. These will need to be signed and returned to us to show your approval.

13. Design process is completed. Client signs final approval (Make it live!) form and sends in final payment. Site goes live. Copyright for final materials created by Watersweb is transferred to client upon signing of approval form and receipt of final payment.