Once analysis has determined the business and user needs for a site, the site can be designed. The design phase is critical to a successful website since it will determine the quality of experience users of a site have; if they have a good experience they will return, if not they will not! A ‘good experience’ is determined by a number of factors such as those that affect how easy it is to find information: for example, the structure of the site, menu choices and searching facilities. It is also affected by less tangible factors such as the graphical design and layout of the site.
Often we have indicated that design is not solely a paper-based exercise, but needs to be integrated into the prototyping process. The design should be tested by review with the client and customer to ensure it is appropriate. Since the main reason given for returning to a website is high-quality content, and content effects conversion, it is important to determine, through analysis, that the content is correct. However, the quality of content is determined by more than the text copy. It is important to achieve high-quality content through design. Bottom line;
Till a website meets the needs of the targeted users it will not meet the needs of the brand providing the website. Website development should be user-centered, evaluating the evolving design as per user requirements.
good-luck (Team Digital Performance @ Expertek US)
www.expertek.net