Process · 01 to 08

Eight stages, every project.

A clear process from discovery through to handover. Each stage ends with something concrete to review before the next begins.

Typical length: 8 to 12 weeks
Review points: Structure · Design · Launch
Performance: Lighthouse 95+
Accessibility: WCAG 2.1 AA

Stage 01 of 08

Discovery & stakeholder alignment

Conversations with the client, a review of the existing site where needed, and a clearer picture of who the site is for before design starts.

Deliverables

Stakeholder interview notes
Audit of the existing site (where one exists)
Audience and goal map
One-page project brief signed off

Stage 02 of 08

Information architecture & content modelling

Sitemap, content types, taxonomies and editorial structure. This is the stage that makes the rest of the project easier, so I take the time to get it right.

Deliverables

Annotated sitemap
Content model with field definitions
Taxonomy and tag strategy
Editorial roles and review flow

Stage 03 of 08

Wireframes & interactive prototypes

Wireframes in Figma, moving from rough structure to a clickable prototype before visual design is locked in.

Deliverables

Lo-fi wireframes of every template
Interactive prototype of the key user flows
Stakeholder UAT-1: structure & flow

Stage 04 of 08

Visual design & branding integration

Typography, colour and components shaped into a visual system the build can follow consistently.

Deliverables

Type scale, colour and spacing tokens
Component primitives in Figma
Brand integration spec
Stakeholder UAT-2: visual sign-off

Stage 05 of 08

CMS build & content templates

WordPress, Webflow, Framer or Sanity, chosen to suit the team and the content. The editing experience matters as much as the front end.

Deliverables

CMS configuration (custom fields, taxonomies, roles)
Editor-friendly templates with sensible defaults
Content migration plan
First-pass content uploaded

Stage 06 of 08

Performance, security, SEO

Performance, security and search basics handled as part of the build, not left until the end.

Deliverables

Lighthouse 95+ across Performance, A11y, Best Practices, SEO
Schema.org structured data
XML sitemap and robots.txt
WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility audit
Security headers & SSL configuration

Stage 07 of 08

UAT, launch, analytics

Final review, launch planning, analytics setup and post-launch checks once the site is live.

Deliverables

UAT checklist signed off by stakeholders
DNS / hosting cutover plan
Plausible or Google Analytics configured
Post-launch smoke tests

Stage 08 of 08

CMS training & post-launch support

Documentation, walkthroughs, a live training session and a clear support window after launch.

Deliverables

Written CMS handbook tailored to the build
Screen-recorded walkthroughs of every editor task
Live training session for the client team
30-day post-launch support window

Ready to start at stage one?

Send a brief and I'll come back with a plan for the work, the timeline and what each stage needs to produce.

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