For Custom Web Designs

A custom web design project is an exciting time for both the customer and the designer.  This is a general overview of how a custom website design project will typically happen.

While no two custom web design projects are exactly alike, a typical web design project will take anywhere from 3-8 weeks (depending on project type, sometimes longer if it’s a large project). You as the customer can have a large impact on how quickly your project gets completed. If you will be away, unavailable or you need to reschedule for any reason, please be courteous and contact me. There may be other clients waiting for your project to be finished so we can start on theirs.

The custom web design process applies for any website design, custom WordPress theme, customization of any Open Source PHP script, CMS, ANY custom template for Option Cart systems (Merchant Moms, Shoppe Pro, Pappa Shop, Designer 218, Posh Carts, etc.).

Are you in a rush?

• Do you need your project in a hurry? Please let us know if you are working on a deadline and we will definitely try to work with that. Rush fees may apply if we have to work round the clock for a period of time.

Before any design project is started

• You must complete our design questionnaire.
• Once we review your design questionnaire, we will respond with a proposal.
• If you accept the proposal, you will be sent a legal contract via email to read (instructions will be sent on what to do with the contract). You will also be required to make a small down payment.
• Once we  receive that completed contract and down payment has been made, your design work can begin. Please note we cannot start your project without a signed contract. and first payment made in full.
• In order to make the down payment, you should expect an invoice to be sent to make a payment via PayPal or you can pay with Visa, MasterCard, Amex and Discover. Your non-refundable down payment to start any custom design will be 50% of the total package. You may also pay in full, if that is your choice. We are very flexible with payment plans and those can be arranged before the design starts.

What to expect during the design phase

• Once we receive your contract, and all the legal stuff is out of the way, we will send you a VERY detailed questionnaire to fill out. This gives us more insight into your design style, tastes, color choices.
• We design a mock-up and you will view them and approve or make changes to them.
• This is the time when we will need very clear direction from you.  This is the stage that can take the longest if you’re unsure of what you want in a design.
• You will be billed accordingly to your contract. The remaining balance you owe will be due before final upload and installation of any design you’ve commissioned me for.
• You get as many drafts as needed to get the design you want, within reason.
• Please be aware that we will guide you if we don’t think a design will be accessible, load too slowly, if color combinations don’t work or in my professional opinion something doesn’t work right.
• Any extra work that is asked of us during any phase of the whole custom design process that is not in the original scope of the contract will be billed at our current hourly rate.
• At this point if you haven’t already, you must have a domain name and hosting set up.

What’s Next?

• Once you’ve approved the design phase of the project we will move on to the coding. We will write valid XHMTL/CSS code for your site and/or install any CMS scripts necessary to run on your server.

Quality control for your peace of mind

• Before your site goes live, we will test it in up to 53 different browsers to assure compatibility. Other Quality factors checked are site download speed, functionality,images loading and accessibility.  Please be aware that not all coding is compatible with ALL browsers. Especially Javascript and Flash. What might work Firefox, might not work in IE7 or IE8. We do not design for IE6 (please don’t ask us to do that). Please let me know if you have any concerns about a specific browser types and compatibility issues.

It’s time to GO LIVE!

• Going live is the most exciting time of all!  Once you’ve approved your site or design, made sure any payments due are current, you can signed off on the project and we will make the site live.
• We will walk you through your website via phone or email if you prefer.
• You must review your website, learn any tutorials we’ve sent you and learn how to maintain your own site unless you’ve purchased a maintenance plan from us. You may ask any technical questions you have. We will also make any minor adjustments that are needed (if there are any).

What’s expected from you? (the client)

The length of time that your design takes is dependent on many things and can vary from client to client.

• Are you being as precise as possible with your design ideas? Telling us you want a site to look “pretty” or “whimsical” is not being specific enough. You really should try to have a good idea of what you want. Sketch it out on paper, send us a long descriptive email, send us pictures, send us a hand drawn picture scanned if you wish. The morewe know about your ideas, the easier it will be to complete your project.

• Are you available? Going weeks or many days without responding to a draft or questions from me can set your completion date back that amount of time. If we don’t hear from you for 30 days, your project will be canceled and you must fill out a new contract. All fees that have paid are non-refundable. No exceptions.

• A large amount of changes – especially late changes – will add extra time. We work Monday – Friday 10am – 5pm.  If there’s an emergency, we can schedule Saturday work but it may incur weekend hourly fees.

• Approval – Not getting your approval or sign-off on any part of the project sets the completion date back.

• Images/Photos/Content – Have you sent us all images, photos or content you want added to your site that are in the scope of your contract? That can set the completion date back if those items are not received.

Logo Design Process

Our logo design process is very similar to that used for a customer design.  We will send you a proposal for your review.  If accepted, we will then send you a contract to sign. You will have an unlimited number of drafts to review, to ensure you are truly pleased with your new logo!