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Design Philosophy
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The Jstar design philosophy is simple: we strive for perfection. We won't rest until your website
is of the highest caliber and you are utterly satisfied.
Every page is carefully hand-crafted (we avoid the use of WYSIWIG editors because they tend to result
in clumsy, inefficient source code that isn't cross-compatible between browsers), and every image
is optimised to the highest degree of precision, so that not a stray pixel is left unturned.
To ensure that our work is of the highest quality, we have developed a five-step development process
that guarantees customer satisfaction.
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| From Concept to Reality: The Jstar Process |
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We start by producing rough sketches on paper, the results
of which will eventually be used to create initial concept mockups in an image-editing
application, and then presented to clients either in person or via e-mail.
The Jstar (very!) rough concept sketch.
Several such sketches are made, and mockups are continued to be presented to the client
until they're absolutely satisfied with the way things will be laid out.
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Once a layout is chosen, the mockup is constructed in more detail.
Colour schemes are finalised, major graphics are made, and relative table widths and
some finer details are worked out.
When the detailed mockup is completed, the client is again shown the design
and feedback is received. Revisions are made as necessary until everyone's happy.
At this stage only sample content is being used (i.e. random text), as exact wordings are still
being worked out by the client.
The main content areas have been identified, however, and their
text will be ready in time for the site launch. Then, it will simply be a matter of pasting
in the correct information to the places allocated in the design.
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Design mockup with final colour scheme.
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Now that the design is complete, we move to the backend of the site's structure.
Navigation is brainstormed extensively with the client, who provides more detailed
information about the site's content. Database design and setup of content
management systems is also completed at this stage.
Final Jstar content templates.
Once the content is recieved, we begin the editing process and alter the design
to incorporate new or changed ideas.
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Not until step four does the actual coding of the HTML page begin. In this way,
the design is implemented a lot more smoothly than if it were pieced together
in a hodge-podge of new ideas and content. Now a site template is created using
the existing design comp as a basis for images and text.
The site template will serve as the basis for all the pages of the site, and as
much of it as possible is dynamic (database driven), so that changes can be made
easily.
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With all of the pages made from the page template, and content edited and integrated
with the site's backend (database), testing may begin. Compatibility testing ensures
that the site is viewable from all browsers and platforms, so that none of your visitors
are seeing something other than what you intended.
Jstar viewed in Internet Explorer (left) and Netscape (right).
Any problems (though relatively uncommon) are fixed, before the entire site is uploaded
onto the client's server space and goes 'live' for the first time.
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Of course, the five-step process is really just the beginning. After a site's launch,
updates and maintenance continue for its duration, which adds incentive for visitors
to return. New content and features may also be added periodically, depending on the
website.
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Packages
