Overall Approach:
Hodgson follows a consistent process through every engagement it undertakes, no matter how large or small. This process establishes reviews and approvals as a system of checks and balances to ensure that key tasks, dates and information are not miscommunicated or lost.

Obviously, all clients have unique needs and requirements, Hodgson prides itself on having a process that can adapt to each project and its requirements while still following an established project path understood by both the Hodgson team members and our client’s team.

Our process employs a collaborative approach, having key points of contact on the client’s side and a project manager on the Hodgson side. To do this Hodgson will need to utilize the subject matter expertise of our clients and partner with them to design and develop a website that meets the needs and objectives they require. 

Detailed below are a series of phases in which we will approach a design and development effort.

Define Phase:
To establish criteria, specifications, requirements, and business goals from which the design can begin.

During this phase Hodgson will define all the relevant factors for the project, for example: who is your audience; what is the objective of this project; what do we need to know to plan for future development; is there a return on investment you are looking for; what other sites have you looked at that appeal to you; what is your corporate brand and messaging; what colors would you like us to employ on the site; what are the technical restrictions we need to design and develop around; and most importantly,what criteria will make this project a success to you.

This phase concludes with the delivery of a technical and design brief that states our understanding of the criteria we will use to move into the design phase – our clients will review and approve the technical and design brief.

Design Phase:
To design the creative, technical, and business system that meet the criteria outlined in the define phase.

Hodgson will design a user interface that meets the brand expectations and criteria, the technical requirements and the business objectives set out by the define phase. We will establish color palettes, logo rules, tag lines, visual elements and combine them with intuitive navigation and content to present three unique interface design directions.

Hodgson will also design the information architecture consisting of a high level navigational model, a set of storyboards, and a page level architecture.

This phase concludes with the review and approval of the information architecture and the user interface design signal.

Develop Phase:
To manufacture, produce, and execute the design into the desired deliverable format.

Hodgson will take the approved design signal and develop it from artwork into a fully functioning website. This will include the optimization of imagery, the manipulation of content into the design layout, the production of any charts, logos or diagrams, and the development of email forms. Following these tasks, Hodgson will test and modify the files to meet functional requirements and defined specifications.

This phase concludes with the review and approval of the functional website.

Integrate Phase:
To deliver the developed or produced materials to the desired environment.

Hodgson will move the functional website to the production server for final testing. At this point only minor modifications to the website files will need to be made if at all. Most of the modifications that will need to be made will be related to the server configurations and the function of the email forms.

This phase concludes with the review and approval of the website and a written communication to go live.

Operate Phase:
The execution and operation of the final deliverables.

Hodgson will conduct one final testing sweep of the website and post it live. Following the go live action, Hodgson will again make one final test sweep of the files.

This phase concludes with any in house training that needs to occur along with the definition of the maintenance schedule, contacts, and terms.