Step 1 - Goal identification

Where I work with the client to determine what goals the new Web Design needs to fulfill. I.e., what its purpose is.

Step 2 - Scope definition:

Once we know the site's goals, we can define the scope of the project. I.e., what web pages and features the site requires to fulfill the goal, and the timeline for building those out.

Step 3 - Sitemap and wireframe creation:

With the scope well-defined, we can start digging into the sitemap, defining how the content and features we defined in scope definition will interrelate.

Step 4: Content creation:

Now that we have a bigger picture of the site in mind, we can start creating content for the individual pages, always keeping search engine optimization (SEO) in mind to help keep pages focused on a single topic. It's vital that you have real content to work with for our next stage:

Step 5: Visual elements:

With the site architecture and some content in place, we can start working on the visual brand. Depending on the client, this may already be well-defined, but you might also be defining the visual style from the ground up. Tools like style tiles, moodboards, and element collages can help with this process.

Step 6: Launch:

Once everything's working beautifully, it's time to plan and execute your site launch!