8 Steps of Web App Design Process

Previously, in order to create a web application, a company needed to involve a large number of specialists and invest a lot of money. Today, this process is greatly simplified, as there are codeless constructors who do not require a specific experience in programming, web design services have become more accessible, and it is enough to address an agency to order them. Such platforms allow users to create a resource on request, and also greatly save the company’s money. However, even with all the simplifications, design web application has retained its stages. Each step is mandatory and necessary to accurately perform the task.
Web app design plays an important role in development. It is the guide between the consumer and the customer. Its task is to make a first impression on the user, to anticipate their needs and to make use of the web page conveniently.
Today it is possible to order to design a web app without any knowledge thanks to a fintech design agency. This guide will help a beginner to understand the complexity of design and answer the most common questions. Also, we will understand the role of design web app, and tell you how to make the interface attractive to the user.
Step 1: Briefing
The first step in creating any web application is a briefing. Its purpose is to define the task and transfer all the necessary information from the customer to the contractor.
The briefing is used to plan the design web application from research to launch, as well as to predict the result of the work. When diving into the details of an order, it is possible to assess the scale and complexity of the project, and get a real first-person experience and knowledge. Furthermore, a schedule is created to monitor the implementation of each phase of the life cycle, because the analysis is necessary when working inside a company, as well as when cooperating with an external contractor.
Step 2: Research
This stage consists of a kind of a questionnaire about the company and the future application. During this step, it is necessary to collect information about:
- target audience;
- competitors;
- purpose of the application.
Any product is created by a business to meet the needs of its customers. To do this, it is important not only to know the target audience, but also to understand their needs.
Researching the competitors and their products is necessary to assess strengths and weaknesses. Some of them can be taken into account and later implemented or not when developing your own product. It also allows one to identify a weakness and find an unfilled niche in order to attract even more users on a unique application.
The functionality of the web page should be user-friendly and satisfy the client’s request. In order to understand what kind of design you need, you need to test a few existing resources from your activity field. Of course, when creating the framework, it is possible to make edits and adjust the model.
Remember that every web application has not only a unique design, but also has different content. A program designed for children will always have a simpler design than one for adults.
Step 3: Planning
This stage is performed on the basis of the previous two and is already more informative for the customer. An integral part of the planning is the creation of a map of the future web application. It displays schematically the structure of the site and shows the connection between the categories. This allows us to assess how easy it will be for the user to search for information.
The map does not include:
- web app design;
- logo;
- font.
The main task of the map is to evaluate not the visual component, but the content. At this stage, it is important to check the location of each category, and the path that the user will take from the home page to a child page. In fact, it is needed to perform the same set of actions as a user and to ensure a logical arrangement of blocks. It’s also worth planning:
- Title. It may seem that this step is very simple at first glance, but, as practice shows, it is not so easy to stick into the memory of users. A particular attention should be paid to this point for those whose niche is crowded with competitors.
- Test platform. How will customers use your application? Statista analytical company has conducted research that shows that the majority of Internet access comes from mobile devices. At the same time, it is important to understand the purpose of the application, since some actions are difficult to perform on a small screen (for example, drawing diagrams or graphs). Before choosing a platform, you need to consider all these facts and overlay them on the needs of the consumer. This will allow effective quality control after the implementation of design elements.
- Filters and navigation. There are a number of tools that can help the customers to quickly find answers. To do this, it is necessary to prescribe in advance the characteristics and features of the products, so that the search takes the minimum amount of time.
In fact, any site or application is a chain with logical links. Ideally, each link is in its own place and its location is intuitively recognized by the client. If difficulties arise at this stage of the work, we recommend checking the competitors’ sites and analyze their finished products and the order in which the blocks are arranged.
Step 4: Wireframing
Once the map is approved, it is possible to begin creating the layout. This version does not yet give an accurate understanding of the appearance of the site, as it still does not include the web app design elements. The layout is something in between a map and a web app.
The main feature of this stage is the choice of the technology stack. It is thanks to such tool that the future platform acquires its proper appearance.
Step 5: Web App Design
The most interesting and at the same time labor-intensive part is the design web app, when the layout acquires its proper appearance. At this stage the customer obtains an idea of the approximate visual appearance of the web app.
A web app designer picks up:
- logo;
- font;
- color scheme of the pages;
- buttons design.
This stage in symbiosis with the previous ones gives an accurate understanding of how the user will see your application.
It’s important to understand that a design web app is not just about pretty buttons and a well-matched palette. It is an important tool for user interaction with the application.
Making edits is a mandatory part of the job. A specialist proposes the options that best suit the client and makes adjustments until all comments have been taken into account.
You can always order a design of a web app and hire web designers with extensive experience in our company.
Step 6: Development
This step is the most responsible, because it is necessary to take into account all the previous steps and turn the framework into a dynamic picture.
The design web application usually starts with the main page. From it, the child branches are further developed. The approved web application design elements are superimposed on the layout, which turns the draft into a full-fledged program. The map is also taken into account, so that the logic of the arrangement of blocks is not lost when using it. In addition, the SEO optimization is needed at this stage. The headings and descriptions on the site should contain keywords, which allows the application to be listed. This way, customers will be able to find the website among the first.
It is worth noting that it is necessary to involve a specialist in order to properly implement the optimization. Their recommendations are passed to the content managers, who, in turn, will properly create texts and headlines.
Step 7: QA
If all previous steps have been completed, there is little else left to do. A test is mandatory because it helps to find possible errors.
Initially, it is determined from which devices the platform will be used. The testing process itself will depend on this. Usually the test starts with a routine scripting process, which may reveal non-functional buttons, non-clickable links, or incorrect construction of the site framework. Furthermore, all textual information is checked for errors.
The most effective way to check web resources is to attract potential users. It is very difficult to assume the logic of their actions on your own, even with a lot of research.
After all the verification steps, the application is loaded and can be accessed by users. However, do not think that there is nothing more to test. It should be done even after the launch.
Step 8: Launch
The most long-awaited moment of designing a web app, which is often considered by customers to be the fastest, comes. After launching, the page falls into the customers’ hands and begins to perform its direct tasks. However, the work on it never stops.
Users send their feedback, recommendations, find shortcomings and thus the application constantly improves.
There is no need to despair, because the main part of work is already done. The only aspect left to do is to improve, taking into account the dynamically changing needs of the market and consumers.
After studying all the stages of development, it becomes clear that there are segments where the involvement of narrow specialists is inevitable. In particular, during the design web app. It should be performed with the help of a professional.
There is a misconception that a web app designer is responsible for the beauty of the site. In fact, their functions are much wider, and they must be partly a psychologist and anticipate the desires of users. Let’s define the key goal in web app design and find the tools that will help you make a quality product.
How to make an effective interface or the role of web app design in development
Studies have proven that most respondents trust the business whose website or application attracts them the most. Only a well-designed page can keep the user, because it takes only 10 seconds to make a first impression.
First, let’s understand who a web app designer is. This specialist is responsible for the appearance of the application and its comprehensibility to the user. This definition is simple at first glance. In fact, their task is a bit deeper.
For designing a web app and its effective interface, it is important to clearly understand the target audience. This information is gathered from the research that is part of webapp design. If you have an idea of the user, then it is necessary to understand the logic of their actions and answer three simple questions:
- HOW is the product used?
- WHAT does the user need it for?
- WHAT problems may await them?
Managing any web application should be easy for the user, and the buttons should be located in intuitive places.
The App web design is based on one important principle: to use existing models of popular platforms. They allow the client to keep action sequences and scripts in their memory. By incorporating them into their design, designers make the application understandable and reduce the time it takes to adapt to the product.
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Consider a few principles that apply in the design web app.
From complex to simple
Any web resource starts with the main page, which then has additional branches. However, how to show this hierarchy to the user? For such purposes, designers have a whole arsenal of tools: from color grading to fonts and location on the page. Note that when you visit any popular web page, you immediately understand the connection between the blocks. This is a credit not only to the developers, but also to the web app designer.
Separating the grains from the chaff
Any application sooner or later finds its regular users with a certain experience. At the same time, it continues to attract newcomers. When performing an app web design, it is important to consider that the skills of these users will be different, which means a different functionality will be relevant for each of them.
The task of the designer is to smartly calculate this and arrange all the buttons on the site so that a newcomer is not confused by them, and an experienced customer can quickly find the necessary feature.
Teach!
When you first visit a web resource, there are a lot of questions related to its use. A web app designer will help to teach a newcomer and guide them through all the pages where the necessary information can be stored.
This principle is important not only for complex, but also for entertaining platforms. Even learning to play an in-app game takes time.
Repetition is the mother of learning
Users often encounter problems while performing some actions on the page. For example, an accidental keystroke can lead to the deletion of data. The app web design solves this issue by thinking through the script and planning the steps, which protects the user from possible errors.
Many people find this tool intrusive. However, an experienced web designer is able to turn a routine refinement into a direct communication between the application and the client.
Simplicity in every aspect
In web app design, the information is often layered and eventually ceases to be comprehensible to the customer. This problem is solved by separating all the branches of the website framework and by the proper design. The app web design helps not to complicate the interface redundant elements. It allows to place them where they are needed.
The role of a web app designer in development is not limited to the creation of the interface. Their help is also needed during testing and launching.
A common problem in the quality control of a finished web application is the complexity of the navigation. However, all the steps of web app designs can still be done correctly. The answer lies in the layout of the information, since users don’t read the content. They only look at the app. A web app designer takes into account this behavior of the users. It helps to place all the necessary functionality in the field of view of the user.
It follows from these principles that the work of a web app designer is multilayered and extremely important. Without it, a web platform is unlikely to find its target audience and win their love.
Steps of a design web app
We’ve already figured out the steps worth following to create a web application from scratch. However, the whole process has additional steps to help make the project happen.
Web app design development plan:
- engineering;
- prototyping;
- styling.
In order to appreciate the complexity of app web design and its role in development, let’s consider each step separately.
Step 1: Engineering
Of course, this stage can take place in parallel with the collection of information by the developers of the application. Moreover, while their goal is to understand WHY the application is needed, the designer tries to understand WHO needs it.
The information about the design can be gathered in many different ways, from simple conversations with the customer to more complex field studies. The goal is the same: to think like a user. It helps to think through the script in a way that addresses the main problem and shows the issues the customer may be facing.
For example, a customer asks to develop web app designs for counting calories. The main goal of the app is to control the client’s diet. Related tasks could be a menu of meals or tracking the weight loss progress.
Step 2: Prototyping
App web design has a kind of life cycle, like a butterfly. If engineering is its initial stage, then the creation of the layout is its second.
The layout is a rough draft of the page on which all the controls are placed. Even a handwritten sketch can become one, but today professional designers are more often used for this purpose. In any case, the layout should reflect the design of the application and its functionality by means of lines and symbols.
After the customer approval, the layout is turned into a dolly — a detailed prototype. It includes the final arrangement of all the elements, their interconnections and the final scenario. Thanks to this step, the customer can see the user’s path on the web page and evaluate the logical arrangement of the blocks.
At this stage, automated programs are used to demonstrate the results of the app web design to the customer. Thanks to them, it is possible to clearly and understandably display the amount of work to be done and demonstrate a draft of the web resource.
Based on the prototype, the application is tested to determine the correct placement of links. This once again, confirms the importance of web application design in development.
Step 3: Styling
When a butterfly with faceless wings is in the hands of a designer, it remains to add colors. Their role is played by the corporate identity, the development of which is another crucial stage.
A web designer starts with one page, filling it with logos, selecting colors and fonts. Once approved by the customer, they move on to other pages, using all the tools to create an effective interface.
This stage is very time-consuming, because every detail of the application requires a specific attention. Even a wrong indent can affect the user’s comfort in the future and force them to look for a counterpart website.
Web app design is a painstaking process that requires special skills and knowledge. It is almost impossible for a novice to do it well. That’s why it is necessary to involve a contracting company.
The experience of big companies proves that the webapp design directly affects the audience response. Even the most well-thought-out script and logical arrangement of pages can be crushed by a wrong style.
Web app design and common questions about it
In this article, we’ve presented the entire process of creating a web app in detail, and we’ve defined the role of web app design in its effectiveness. However, there are a number of other questions that customers often ask. Let’s try to answer the most popular ones and create a complete picture of the importance of proper application interface design.
For whom are the services of a web designer relevant?
Any growing company is working on introducing new tools to promote its product. This includes not only web applications, but also sites and software.
All these products are created for people, and therefore convenience is a priority. A design web app and other platforms help to attract the target audience, and therefore sell the product or service.
Is it possible to design a web application on your own?
The profession of a web designer is complex and demanding. Professionals in this field not only have many unique skills, but also regularly add new competences to their knowledge due to the fast-paced market. If you want to get a good design web app, seek the help of a designer.
Is it possible to design a web application if the company’s style is under development?
Every customer is different. Some come with a specific task, but there are others who need help developing a design web app from scratch. When planning, the elements that the company is already working with are taken into account. They may require refinement, which will not be a problem for an experienced designer.
How to know if the web app design is developed correctly?
The main sign of a properly developed web application design is the user response. If your platform is gaining popularity and attracting your target audience, then the direction is right. Hence, it means that the app is:
- attractive;
- convenient;
- adaptive.
It is also possible to track user comments, which are a treasure trove of useful information for developers. Users are extremely honest and can give valuable recommendations for further edits. Overall, app web design solves the major problems of users and affects the usability.
How to find a design studio that can develop a web application?
There are a lot of offers on the market, but there are a few points that allow you to find a reliable partner.
- Website. Only those who have been able to create something special for themselves can be trusted to design a web application.
- Reviews. A reliable company will not hide the recommendations of its customers, as they best reflect the results of completed projects.
- Contacts. Contacting a partner should be easy.
It is possible to find and check all this information on our portal.
How much do web design services cost on the market?
There is no fixed price for developing a design web app. Each case is different. Our company always focuses on the customer’s budget, offering the most suitable solutions. Furthermore, the team meets and strictly follows the established deadline.
Are the services of a designer needed when developing a casino app?
According to statistics, online games, including virtual casinos, are in great demand among Internet users and do not cease to gain popularity. Casino web design helps to attract potential players and makes their pastime enjoyable. The design also plays an important role in the development of slots, making the process of playing understandable and simple.
The design of a web application for such projects is very specific, but familiar to specialists from our team. Write to us if you need this service!
Why is the mobile optimization needed?
As mentioned earlier, one of the tasks of an app web design is to study the target audience. Performing it, it answers the question “How will the resource be used?”.
Nowadays, universal versions are popular, which can be run both from a mobile device and from the computer. This makes the product flexible and allows it to be used regardless of the circumstances and preferences of the user.
Conclusion
Designing a web app is a time-consuming process. It takes more than one week and doesn’t end even after launch. It is possible to create an application from scratch for any company with any budget. The main aspect is to find a worthy partner who can implement the idea.
The design web app is not limited to visual objects. This stage requires a special approach and a careful study of the customer needs. Thanks to this, the product not only gets an attractive appearance, but also helps to solve users’ problems.
After studying all the steps, it becomes clear that a customer cannot do it without a team of professionals, because only in this way it is possible to count on the success of the resource. Contact us to order the design web app right now!