Design On a Development Site, Not in a Mockup!
Design On a Development Site, Not in a Mockup!
In the realm of website design, the journey from conception to completion is a complex process that involves various stages. One of the most critical steps in this process is the creation of a mockup, an artistic rendering or model of the proposed design. However, as we've learned from our experience designing and building over 500 websites, it's crucial to transition swiftly from the mockup phase to the development site stage.
Mockups are Static, Not Interactive
A mockup, typically created using tools like Photoshop, provides a static visual representation of what the final website might look like. It can include elements such as text, images, buttons, layout, color schemes, and branding elements. While mockups are useful for visualizing key design aspects and facilitating discussions among stakeholders, they have their limitations. They are non-interactive and cannot fully capture the dynamic nature of a live website.
Websites (and Development Sites) are Interactive
Websites are not static entities; they are interactive, responsive, and constantly evolving. This dynamism is something a mockup, being just an image, cannot adequately convey. Therefore, while we do create a quick mockup to establish a general layout and vibe, we advise our clients not to dwell too much on it. Instead, we seek their approval on the overall direction and quickly move to the build phase.
The build phase involves coding a development site based on the approved mockup. This is where the detailed work begins. A development site is interactive, allowing clients to engage with it in a way they can't with a mockup. It offers a more realistic representation of the final product, making it easier for clients to provide feedback and for designers to make necessary adjustments.
Top ten reasons why designing with a development site is more beneficial than relying solely on a mockup:
- Interactivity: Development sites are interactive, offering a more realistic user experience compared to static mockups.
- Responsiveness: They allow for testing of the website's responsiveness across different devices and screen sizes.
- Real-time Adjustments: Changes can be made and viewed in real-time on a development site, speeding up the design process.
- Functionality Testing: They enable testing of various functionalities, which is not possible with mockups.
- SEO Optimization: Development sites allow for SEO elements to be incorporated and tested.
- Performance Evaluation: They provide an opportunity to evaluate the website's loading speed and overall performance.
- Navigation Testing: The ease of navigation can be assessed and improved on a development site.
- User Experience: They offer a more accurate representation of the final user experience.
- Client Confidence: Development sites can boost client confidence as they can see and interact with a working model of their website.
- Efficiency: Lastly, designing with a development site is more efficient as it eliminates the need to recreate the design from a mockup to a live website.
Citations:
- https://visme.co/blog/what-is-a-mockup/
- https://www.sketch.com/blog/wireframe-vs-mockup-vs-prototype/#:~:text=Wireframes%20communicate%20structure%20from%20a,functionality%20along%20with%20the%20design.
- https://www.justinmind.com/blog/website-mockup/
- https://ddi-dev.com/blog/programming/why-its-better-choose-prototypes-over-mockups/
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mockup
- https://blog.hubspot.com/website/website-mockup
- https://www.linkedin.com/advice/3/what-advantages-disadvantages-using-prototypes#:~:text=Mockups%20also%20have%20some%20disadvantages,of%20the%20product%20or%20system.
- https://blog.hubspot.com/website/website-mockup#:~:text=They%20are%20important%20because%20they,aligned%20on%20the%20final%20product.
- https://ied.eu/blog/the-importance-of-web-design-and-development-in-business/
- https://www.freshconsulting.com/insights/blog/the-importance-of-understanding-the-web-development-process/
- https://cliquestudios.com/mockups/#:~:text=Ultimately%2C%20a%20mockup%20serves%20as,various%20visual%20elements%20work%20together.
- https://cliquestudios.com/mockups/
- https://www.knowledgehut.com/blog/web-development/importance-of-web-development
- https://channelcreative.co.uk/website-development/insight/purpose-of-web-design/
- https://webflow.com/blog/always-choose-prototypes-over-mockups
- https://uxmovement.com/wireframes/wireframes-vs-mockups-whats-the-difference/
- https://www.linkedin.com/posts/ivan--zhukov_mockup-is-not-the-design-on-the-importance-activity-7081569336775122945-4h2e
Adam Ruffin2024-04-02Fantastic service! Donny was very patient with our changes during the process and we would highly recommend his company !Craig Williams2024-04-02Donny has been hosting and handling our website for years. I would highly recommend Grover Web Design!Amanda Bigger2024-04-02As a small business owner it is extremely difficult to find a website builder and designer that is willing to cater to your needs, regardless of your budget. In the four years we have been with Grover Web Design we continue to be impressed with their knowledge, attention to detail, prompt response time, and professionalism. Thank you Grover Web Design for continuing to provide us at Bigger Glass Company with the best all-around website support!Teri Todd2023-10-20We have always received compliments on our website design! Donny was understanding of what we needed and created a site that was truly reflective of who we are and what we do!Beth Bunge2023-10-20GWD is the Best in the industry. They designed our website and listened to our input and gave great ideas and expertise. We get tons of compliments on our website and that has increased business for us! In addition, they manage our website and taught us how to do some changes ourselves. If we ask they immediately update and makes changes as needed. They are responsive and so professional and fun to work with. Highly recommend!Clare Hungiville2023-10-19I cannot say enough good things about Donny Grover and his team at Grover Web Design ! I contacted Grover Web Design to do a series of web pages for various companies. They are fast, cost efficient and super creative !! Their customer service followup is simply the BEST. Never going to another designer again ! Donny, thank you for all you do, Clare Hungiville.Tanner Renken2023-10-13I’ve been working with GWD for a few years now and have nothing negative to say. Donny and his team do awesome work! They are quick to respond and help out whenever they can! 10/10 recommend!Ron Norris2023-06-22We have been fortunate to have Grover Web Design as our website developer for the past 8 years. Their service and support have been exceptional throughout our partnership. What sets them apart is their ability to assist us with any IT related question or project. We highly recommend Grover Web Design for their expertise and dedication to their clients.Denada Jackson2023-05-10It is always a pleasure to work with Donny and Team. I appreciate their prompt responses and always capturing our client's vision.Womens Health Action2023-05-08As a small team based in New Zealand, we've used Grover Web Design to help with the running/maintenance of the Global Big Latch On website. We've always found Donny to be easy to communicate with, professional, and responsive (despite our time zone differences). We would recommend GWD to others.
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