From my years of training and expertise at New City Media Inc. and other freelance projects and jobs I follow the five phases used by NCM to complete your site: Planning, Design, Production, Testing and Post-Deployment. All phases are unique and adapted to fit your required project.

1. Planning Phase
During this phase, I identify the needs and requirements of the project -– otherwise known as the project scope. The scope is the dividing line between what is and is not part of a project. Thorough planning and a clear definition of scope are some of the primary factors behind my high customer satisfaction history. My customers tell us that the Planning Phase allows them to define their expectations, communicate when they expect milestones to be met and outlines what exactly they will be buying.

Following the development of the Requirements Document and Creative Brief, I define all of the databases and applications to be developed and all of the editorial content to be included. It is important to note that no site or interface designs are developed during this phase. Instead, a set of documentation is drafted that serves as a guide to the later stages of development. The extra time I spend in this phase results in major cost savings to my customers. Computer industry studies show that the costs of making changes to the site content or system model during this phase are substantially less costly than that of later phases.

A change to the site content or system model occurs in practically every project. To expect otherwise is unrealistic. I reduce costs for my customers, however, by helping them to identify these changes early in the development process.
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2. Design Phase
During this phase the goal is to develop an exact blueprint for the production of each aspect of the project, including the look and feel aspect that my clients are so eager to see. I move from the high-level planning documents to specifics such as a detailed site map, content and application screen layouts, detailed data diagrams, process flowcharts and application design documents. All content is also gathered, organized, edited or written during the Design Phase. In the end, everyone from the programmers to the graphic designers will have an exact description of the work to be performed during production.

In this stage, the Client and myself review available materials to determine what will be included in the site, as well as define any content that needs to be developed.

With ease of use and capacity for modification and expansion in mind, I will address the visual elements, interactivity and navigation. Taking the users’ point of view, I will develop creative options for the client to review and provide feedback.
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3. Production Phase
Once the client has approved the design documents and mockups, I begin execution of the designs. The careful planning has taken much of the guesswork out of the process at this point, and I will begin to produce the site.
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4. Testing Phase
I use many of the web industry’s standard practices to thoroughly test pages and applications for quality and usability specifications. All application modules and site interactivity will go through Alpha and Beta release stages before being declared ready for deployment. All site content is proofed by myself and or an outside resource.

Alpha Site - From the initial concept discussions, I will develop one section of the site with full functionality. The client provides its feedback and approval. Upon approval, I will proceeds with Beta site development.

Beta Site - The Beta Site is a fully functional site and represents the test run for the project as a whole. myself and the client test the site extensively. Both parties collect feedback and make recommendations for adjustments. The Beta site review leads directly to launch.
Any required user documentation is usually completed during this phase as well.
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5. Post-Deployment Phase
Following the launch of the site, I will begin a phase of ongoing support and maintenance. I will hold an informal debriefing session with the client to discuss the project’s development in hindsight and to identify future development needs. Because my clients often like to build complex sites in phases, I often move straight from launch into a new Planning Phase for an additional phase of development
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