Here’s a visual walkthrough that shows the workflow of my typical WordPress design services process. You can also see more examples in my design portfolio.
First, a look at the client’s original website {not my work}
Client Vision Sheet
Once you’ve purchased your package, I send a detailed vision sheet for you to complete with your style preferences. I’ll use this as a starting point for your colors, fonts, and overall aesthetic.
At this stage you’ll share your likes, dislikes, and wishlist for your project. Some clients send pictures, sketches, screenshots, links to websites they love, or even Pinterest boards. Sometimes clients have a specific vision at this stage, but other times they send several different ideas and I help narrow down the best. I also send a design booklet to help with this stage.
Branding Process: Header Draft 1
In this example, Rissa thought she wanted to use only her pinks and teal with black. She suggested two fonts she liked and sent a couple doodle style hearts to try. I used those suggestions, plus a few of my own, to create her initial header options.
Branding Process: Header Revision 1
After seeing the initial drafts, she realized she did want to use all of her previous colors. She also wanted to keep “Heart of Florida” together. This is led to the second set of headers.
Branding Process: Header Revision 2
It is always easier to decide what you do and don’t like after seeing examples, so two revisions are always included as part of the process. Rissa wanted to rearrange fonts and her final header was born, with just a minor revision in character spacing.
Header Approval
After the initial header proposal and two rounds of revisions to refine your favorite, the header design is typically completed and “locked in” as final. If additional large revisions are needed beyond the 2 included in your design package, they are billed in advance at current my hourly rate. Minor revisions are always included, within reason.
Coordinating Graphics
A similar process is used for all other graphics in your package. The header must be locked in before moving on to the extra pieces, which are designed to coordinate with it.
Website Build
After the graphics are approved, I build your website. This allows you to see your header, colors, fonts, and website layout all in one place while we work together to make it perfect.
If you have a brand new site, this will be built “live” on your own website. If you already have a website, we will put it in a personalized “coming soon” mode or use a staging site (as available by your host).
The website revision process works similar to the graphics. I’ll build your entire site using the text and graphics you’ve already approved. You’ll provide feedback and I’ll make your first round of revisions. Then you’ll review your site again. A second round of revisions is included, if needed. Minor fine-tuning beyond the included two revisions is included. Extensive additional revisions will incur additional overage fees. This example shows a detailed look at the website revision process.
I install and configure the final approved website so that you receive a turnkey site when finished.
Completed Project
You’ll receive website-quality, flattened .jpgs or .pngs of the final graphics I designed for your project. You’ll also receive a list of your fonts and colors to main consistency as you create your own items.
Communication
Carefully completing your design sheet is an important first step in the process to shape your project, but as you can see this entire process is a collaborative effort. It’s important for us to communicate frequently with each other by email during your design window to keep the project moving. Projects that extend beyond their two-week window may incur additional fees.
More “Behind The Scenes” Process Examples
Visit my design portfolio to see more examples of the design process. Here are a few detailed examples: