Seven Steps to Return on Design begins at the start of a project to redesign an existing site or to design a new web site. The seven-step process never ends, it moves through design and development to deployment of the redesigned or new site in Step 7, then begins again as the designers get feedback from people using the site and start planning how to enhance the design. The goal is to provide a method to design Web sites that continually improve in their ability to meet user needs and achieve the site-owning organizations' goals and objectives.

 

Step 1

This step will cover a clear definition of the site's user and stakeholder groups, and a deep understanding of user expectations and needs, enable the client to define and prioritize the goals for a new site or a site redesign.

• Test all the client's assumptions about site users by observing and talking with representatives of the various user groups to verify that the client's beliefs are in alignment with what the audience thinks and values.

-fFor a site redesign, review the current site and study and feedback from users to identify problems to avoid in the new site.

-Assess competitors' sites to see what they do well, what could be done better, and what to avoid.

-Identify and agree upon specific, verifiable, and quantifiable success metrics.

-Reach a consensus on a prioritized list of goals and requirements; and obtain approval of it by key decision-makers before moving on to the next phase of site design and development.

-Document everything in both digital and hard-copy form.