Process
The devil may be in the details, but the broad strokes can make beginning a new Web site or other design project seem like trying to board a speeding train. Relax.
Consultation/proposal
A case study
Here are snapshots of the Random Precision Media Web site on the road to going live:
RPM begins with a free, no-obligation consultation — an easy discussion face-to-face or over the phone. We'll talk about your ideas: what you're trying to achieve, where you're coming from, and where you'd like to go.
After getting a scope of your project, RPM will write a detailed proposal that'll include:
- A description of the work to be performed by RPM;
- A timeline, as detailed as your plans allow; and
- A price
If need be, we'll rework the proposal until it suits your needs.
When you're ready for RPM to begin work, sign and return the proposal, along with a 20 percent deposit, and we're off and running.
Designing/proofing
We'll begin by designing:
- Mock-ups of your site using Adobe Illustrator and Photoshop to establish a "look and feel" for your site; and
- An outline of your site's information architecture. What are the sections and sub-sections of your site? Which pages will be "hard-coded" and which will be dynamic database-driven "applications?" Which areas will be user-editable using one of RPM's custom content management systems?
As you approve our mock-ups and outline, we begin actually coding your site — turning the static images of our illustrations into a fully-functional Web site using XHTML, CSS and PHP/MySQL.
As your site takes shape, we'll set up working demos of our work in a private area of the Internet, where you can review and proof your site as it's built and before it "goes live."
Cost
Just like building a two-bedroom ranch home costs less than a 100-unit condominium building, developing the on-line equivalent of a business brochure costs less than an interactive site that includes a content management system.
Unlike some firms, RPM doesn't work from a fixed menu. We don't develop Web sites as "packages" and we don't base our prices on how many Web pages your site will ultimately contain.
RPM realizes each project is unique, so we write a thoughtful and thorough proposal for each job. We estimate how many hours the job will take us to complete, and include in our proposal a single price to complete your project.
We might be able to develop a simple site for as little as $250. A more complex site rich with dynamic applications driven by server-side scripting will likely cost four figures.