Our Process

ISL Web Development Process

On every client engagement, ISL assembles a multi-disciplinary team whose members collaborate actively with client project stakeholders. We conscientiously apply a carefully formulated methodology throughout a project lifecycle from initial conceptualization through final deployment.

Project Lifecycle

  1. Proposal
  2. Elaboration
  3. Design
  4. Development
  5. Launch
  6. Maintenance

I. Proposal Phase

The proposal phase is the shortest phase in the process, and usually consists of one or two initial client meetings and/or an RFP or specification. The primary goals in this phase may consist of all or most of the following:

  • Understand the business case or objectives for the project.
  • Establish overall project scope and time boundary conditions.
  • Outline the key interactive functionality (use cases) and other key requirements that will drive the creation of the user interface for the site audience.
  • Outline one or more technology framework options (i.e. Drupal, Flash, etc).
  • Milestone: Scope of project is established. Proposal with cost and time estimate is delivered. This can result in an SOW (Statement of Work) to begin the project, or a preliminary estimate dependent on the Elaboration Phase below for larger projects.

II. Elaboration Phase

The elaboration phase includes a more in-depth exploration of site specifications and overall functionality. Project elaboration should take one to three weeks depending on the scope of the project. The primary goals in this phase may consist of all or most of the following:

  • Make final decision on primary software frameworks and tools (i.e. Drupal, Flash, etc).
  • Undertake Search Engine Optimization (SEO) research and make recommendations.
  • Decide on concrete solutions for any conflicts determined in inception phase and have a supporting framework to carry out such results.
  • Review competitors if any.
  • Solidify functionality details.
  • Establish a clear understanding of user interface.
  • Establish measureable conversion goals to reflect desired visitor behaviors in order to make sure these can properly be measured by the application design.
  • Create wireframes and a site map to be used in the development phase.
  • Milestone: Project framework, architecture and functionality is clear.
  • Deliverables: Comprehensive scope of work document (with refined summary, time line, and cost estimate if required). Site maps and UI wireframes.

III. Design Phase

The design phase includes creating the visual designs and user interface of the website. This phase can take 2-6 weeks to complete depending on the design and functionality requirements.

  • ISL and client agree on Design Brief to establish client branding, user interface and aesthetic guidelines that designers use to commence their work.
  • "Moodboards" further elaborating the design brief are used in some cases.
  • ISL designs 2-3 flat mockups of relevant pages/screens.
  • Deliverable: Flat mockups presented to client for feedback.
  • Client provides design revisions/feedback.
  • New mockups presented to client with requested changes.
  • Design revision iterations repeated as necessary.
  • Focus group or user testing of designs if required.
  • Deliverable: Flat mockup designs of all relevant pages provided to client.
  • Milestone: Design approved by client and ISL creates W3C compliant HTML/CSS templates for website pages.

The steps above speak to the most common design task - website page design. In other instances, we might create working prototypes and implement different user interface solutions for client review or user testing before building an approved version. In other instances we have worked with 3rd party designers or existing designs as well.

IV. Development Phase

The development phase or engineering build can be the longest phase of a project depending on the scope of functionality required by the project. For smaller websites the development phase may be only 2-3 weeks. Larger more complex projects that include features such as content management, complex databases or advanced community functionality can take more time to develop.

  • ISL processes approved designs into the interactive framework or theme determined in the elaboration and design stages.
  • Upon completion of each section of interactivity, comprehensive testing is performed to ensure functionality, stability and overall usability of the website.
  • Content population: Depending on type of site, ISL usually enters first version of content for testing and display purposes.
  • Deliverable: Initial release of the site is implemented on a password-protected staging server, where the site can be tested and reviewed by the client.
  • Final quality assurance (QA) is performed on the staging site until all known bugs have been fixed. We use various bug tracking solutions like Mantis to facilitate the testing phase.
  • Milestone: Site is approved by client.
  • Deliverable: Final site is ready to be uploaded and configured on client server.

V. Launch Phase

Once a client is satisfied with the web application, we are ready to launch it live. A hosting solution has been established, usually on a 3rd party or client's internal server. Sometimes clients opt for "soft launches" where a site is live but no publicized as they gather more feedback and user input.

  • Site testing on hosting platform. Load testing as needed.
  • Set-up final client content administrators and training relevant personnel to enter new content into live site if needed and read site traffic reports.
  • DNS entries to point domain name to live site.
  • For full launch, submit Sitemap, inform search engines as needed.
  • Configure and test final Analytics profiles to ensure traffic is properly recorded.
  • Test any XML or other content feeds from site.
  • Test email delivery from site as needed, and to content administrators from site as needed.
  • Deliverable: Final site is uploaded and configured on client server with necessary support services properly configured.

At this stage we also can start a paid traffic driving campaign for a site if there is one, run baseline reports on competitive search engine presence, and establish any other benchmarks against which client will measure future site performance.

VI. Maintenance Phase

In this phase of the project, the live site is being used by the target audience. Feedback received from the initial release may result in further refinements. This phase may include completing the training of client staff on administrative functionality such as a content management system, explaining traffic and analytic results in greater detail and handholding until the client is fully able to take control of their own website. There can be small bugs that crop up after launch and ISL fixes these.

After site launch, clients can either operate their own websites with only occasional assistance from ISL, or engage us for a maintenance phase where we perform certain tasks on an ongoing basis or add smaller functionality on an time and materials basis. In other situations, further functionality is specified at a later date and this is undertaken by us on a Project basis. As needed we can prepare necessary documentation to facilitate a hand-off or continuing work like a Style Guide, Content Management Guide, etc.

In general ISL has enjoyed long-standing client relationships and based these on the requisite needs of each client and their unique needs.