Plan the Perfect Site

We all want to hit the ground running when we start a new project, but a little forethought can reap huge dividends in the long run.

Planning is integral to almost every project - it's like asking how a blueprint benefited a building. You can't build a building without doing a blueprint, otherwise the result will be ineffective and fall down!

No two sites are the same, and so there are no hard and fast rules when it comes to planning, but putting the following on your checklist, is a good starting point.

1. The Client

Are you involving the client from the word go, or rampaging onwards, forging your own path? If it's the latter, stop. The best sites result from planning alongside the client, understanding what they're trying to communicate and bringing your insight and knowledge to the table in order to facilitate this. Only through co-operative planning can you fully understand the potential of the internet.

2. The Users

Knowing who you're designing for and understanding their behaviour is the most important aspect of planning. If you, or your client, don't know who you're aiming a project at, find out and get them directly involved. This should be done at the start, before any lasting decisions have been made.

3. The Budget

Budgetary considerations are important. Designers need to ensure that quotes include adequate costs for the required planning. Also, from the client's budget, you can calculate what is possible to create, cutting down pie-in-the-sky ideas, or figuring out how to maximise your resources.

4. The Technology

There are numerous technical considerations when planning a website - hosting, Flash, HTML, whether a site will be static or dynamic or administered by the client. The main issue that has an impact on technology choices and site structure is accessibility. It's best practise to follow accessibility guidelines even if it's not defined in the brief. This always results in cleaner, extensivle and well-structured code and content.

5. The Future

Ultimately, the main reason people plan projects is to ensure things don't go wrong in the future. Future-proofing is becoming more and more necessary as clients look for greater value for money that also comes with longevity and adaptability. Ensure your plan isn't just for getting a site online, and that it also includes scope for evolution, growth and new technology.