Once all of the formalities of getting started with Iron to Iron have taken place and the project has officially started, our first objective is to come up with a targeted plan based around all of the original criteria that was developed during the onboarding process.

This phase includes a lot of thinking and researching. During this time we’ll take a step back and look at the project ahead of us in full. We’ll look at the ultimate goals in addition to the steps we plan to take in order to get there.

New ideas and techniques are born while we’re wrapping our heads around the project. Our experience plays a large role in knowing the trends and standards that users expect, but it’s this step that helps us push the envelope further and come up with new ways to maximize those expectations.

Rough wireframes are created to get our initial thoughts down for key pages. As this process continues, we iterate on the wireframes until we have a solid concept that is ready for presentation.

This phase includes a lot of thinking and researching. During this time we’ll take a step back and look at the project ahead of us in full. We’ll look at the ultimate goals of the project as well as the steps we plan to take in order to get there.

What's a Wireframe?

Wireframes act as the blueprint of the project. They are a digital document which outlines the content structure, hierarchy and rough placement. Wireframing is a tool that helps both the designer and client visualize the layout of the site content without investing time and energy into overall aesthetic look of the site (this step comes later). This allows us to present and iterate upon initial ideas in a very efficient way. See a wireframe example.

It’s at this point that the real collaboration sets in with the client. Presenting the wireframes to the client is really the first true deliverable of the project. Having this wireframe as the first visual aid really helps clients start to see their project from a new perspective. This naturally leads to constructive feedback and iteration.

As we present and discuss the wireframes, some solutions are confirmed while others lend to newly refined ideas. This is the beauty of collaboration taking place; combining a deep knowledge of the product or service from the client with an intimate understanding of users and trends on the Web from Iron to Iron.

We continue this process until we have a comprehensive document which outlines the full structure and hierarchy of content needed to fulfill the goals of the website.

It’s also worth mentioning that throughout this process we are also ensuring that each decision made along the way accommodates best practices on the Web from not only the perspective of the site visitor, but also from a search engine and administrative standpoint. (More on that in the Develop and Launch section.)

Once the wireframes have been completely nailed down, we move into the design phase. This is where we give life to our wireframes.

Before this process begins, we take a close look at the current brand guidelines and (if necessary) start thinking through how we can expand beyond what’s already in place in order to accommodate new growth, including a fully functioning website.

Often times companies have a logo, but don’t necessarily have supporting graphic elements to accompany their full brand. Depending on your needs and your current brand guidelines, the first step of our design process is to either confirm or elaborate on your supportive graphic elements. It’s important that we work through this process to support the site itself, but to also communicate the precise message that you want it to from a visual perspective. Your website aesthetic should be consistent with all of your marketing efforts which will act as a familiarizing characteristic for visitors to the site.

We’ll work closely with you to confirm that we’re on the right track and that every detail surrounding the design is working toward accomplishing your project goals.

Designing your website

Since this process is a bit more time consuming we like to start by designing the homepage and one interior page, followed by a presentation.

We believe that – in most cases – there is one ideal design solution that can best accomplish the unique goals of each client. When we enter the design phase, we carefully follow one path until completion. In other words, we present you with one design concept rather than a variety of design concepts to choose from. All of the design decisions made throughout the design process are intentionally made and have their own specific purpose. During our presentation, we’ll walk you through all of these details so that you’ll have a great understanding behind the rhyme and reason behind each pixel.

If you are to disagree with the logic we’ve put into our design decisions, we most definitely want to hear about it. We’ll work closely with you to ensure that we’re on the right track and that every detail surrounding the design is properly calibrated. It is not uncommon to iterate upon the first presentation; we’ll keep working until you’re fully satisfied with the outcome. However, we won’t shy away from (respectfully) providing talking points if we think a particular request will be counter productive to the project goals. Just like any form of art, design can be subjective. This is why open and honest communication plays such an important role with our entire project process.

It’s only after the design direction created for the homepage and first interior page are approved that we move on to designing the remaining pages of the site. We work through those remaining pages in sections, presenting them for your review along the way.

After the full set of unique page designs have been designed and approved the files move into the Develop phase where they transform from static comps to a working website.

Please note: if your company or organization is looking to have a website built but also requires supporting brand elements to be created for additional marketing materials, just let us know. Creating an entire brand identity under one roof is a great opportunity to ensure that your brand is represented properly through every marketing effort.

While Iron to Iron specializes in Web Design and Development, accommodation of full marketing initiatives—from logo creation through various print needs—is something that can be integrated into any project.

The Develop phase touches every part of the process at Iron to Iron. Constantly taking development concerns into account helps to keep the project resources on track.

Beginning in the Strategy phase, items relevant to development are evaluated against project goals and new ideas as they’re brought up. This helps not only to fast track exciting ideas but to also ensure the project scope is always under consideration.

Having a focus on development early in the process ensures that the Design phase is properly supported. Knowing the design direction can be fulfilled by the subsequent phases of the process without sacrificing quality, timing, or budget is mission critical.

Iron to Iron focuses diligently on ensuring that the custom websites we build are put together in such a way that empowers you to take ownership of the site.

Iron to Iron focuses on standards. The Internet itself is most successful when everyone is on the same page, and Iron to Iron fully stands behind that. Websites are built to ensure browser compatibility, responsiveness, and performance all by maintaining a dedication to standards and best practices put in place by the development community at large.

Further, Iron to Iron focuses diligently on ensuring that the custom websites we build are put together in such a way that empowers you to take ownership of the site. We strive to make the management and updating of your website something easily done in house. We feel that your website is one of the most effective tools you have, and it should support your business goals in any way possible.

We work with a variety of technologies, and align with any established workflow you may have in place. If you’re looking for guidance on best practice we can offer that too.

Our goal during the Develop phase is to transform all of the work done in the Strategy and Design phases into something tangible.

Once the Development phase has been completed, projects are migrated to a staging environment. This is when you get to see it firsthand as it will appear in public when the time comes. The staging environment is an access-restricted area that can only be viewed by you and us. We’ll continue to collaborate, populate content, and fix any issues that may arise during this process.

Don’t get us wrong, content population and final testing isn’t something to glance over. We take the time to ensure that the content looks as it should, that the site behaves as it should, and we fill in any tiny gaps that get exposed now that everyone’s eyes are finally taking it all in. This is where the finishing touches are put in place.

Once the site has been fully staged and is prepped to “go live” we'll go ahead and come up with an optimal plan for launching the site.

The launch itself is often straightforward and quiet as all parties discussed the plan in great detail once the time comes.

The launch plan will often require coordination from all hands involved in the project, and even some that aren’t. We may need to reach out to other departments to give notice of the launch date, and possibly team up with existing site management to ensure all of the technical details are taken care of.

The launch itself is often straightforward and quiet as all parties discussed the plan in great detail once the time comes. Iron to Iron will ensure that the site is properly migrated to its final destination and put on display for the world to see.

Over the next hours/days/weeks Iron to Iron will be available to take care of any issues that may have come up after all of the testing and staging activity.

Every project we’ve worked on looks a little bit different than it did when we first started talking about it. The team can’t help but to come up with ideas along the way. We understand, accept, and encourage idea generation as the project goes on!

We focus on maintaining project scope primarily to ensure that projects are completed on time and on budget, so the ideas that grow out of excitement from working on the project are cataloged and reviewed as potential project goals for subsequent iterations of the project.

The web is a very dynamic place, and Iron to Iron projects are built with that in mind. We think it wise to leave openings for improvement down the line based on knowledge gained from each successful project phase.

Testing ideas is a valuable way to ensure that additional phases of the project continue to work toward the original project goals. Ideas can also be compared against data that can be actively collected with the project in its current state, and help the decision making process.

The web is a very dynamic place, and Iron to Iron projects are built with that in mind. We think it wise to leave openings for improvement down the line based on knowledge gained from each successful project phase.