Steps of a redesign

Overview
Goals
Time estimate and team
Content review
Site structure and navigation
Finalize timeline and content
Visual design development
Production and proofing
Launch and maintenance

Structure and navigation: sitemap

The biggest mistake developers make in site architecture is basing the sitemap on their office organization chart. As you structure information, it's essential to stay focused on how your audience will be looking for it.

Create a sitemap

A sitemap is a clear representation of the overall plan of your web site, showing how the site will be structured, as well as how you'll arrange the content in it. You'll begin with a review of your current site, content contributers, and server logs, and end with a plan for future development.

Step-by-step: how to create a sitemap

Determine navigation

Once you've grouped your content into areas (according to how users will look for each piece), you will name those content areas. When labeling navigation items, it is critical to focus on the user. Keep names simple and as short as possible. Avoid the temptation to be clever or whimsical. Your goal is to deliver information to the audience as quickly as possible.

Conduct user testing

The most important part of the process is quantifying whether you're communicating successfully, and where and how to improve. User testing can help you do this.

Get sign-off and approval

Once you know that your site structure and navigation make sense to your audience, share your process and what you learned from it with your client, boss, or stakeholders. Start by reminding everyone of the approved goals and user profile. Outline the testing strategy and results. Explain the improvements you made to ensure that navigation is as clear as possible to your audience and show how easy you've made it for users to get their highest-priority information.

Next step: Finalize timeline and content

 

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