We use a goals and strategic options based approach to web design. The client needs to make a lot of desicions in order to have a website the does what is desired of it. We use our facilitation skills, strategic options documents from other clients, written task orders and timelines, beta testing and more to help create the website that truly meets the client's priorties within the given budget. We like to ask challenging questions early in the process and make sure the client has thought of the consequences of different options. Good websites are worth the effort. We work hard to make everyone's effort effective and sustainable.

Our design process consists of the following steps:

• Clarify Goals and Strategies – Work with the client to develop clear goals and strategic options for using the web. Use a 'strategic options" document prepared in advance from client material and interviews and existing "options" documents created for others. Begin creating a list of web site "opening day' and long-term objectives.
• Prioritize Goals and Strategies – Faciltate one or more meetings of the client's decision makers to think through and choose priorities among the strategic options. Use "weighing exercises" and consensus meeting techniques. Decide if the site will use open source tools, use metadata and an internal database, have a discussion forum and listservs, and more.
• Create a Schedule of Tasks and Milestones - With the list of tasks comes a more detailed estimate of the cost for meeting the deliverables and milestones. At this time, the client decides among their options for getting the work done. Wolf and Associates can help in any area for which there is need.
• Set up Folders and the Web Directory - Use the results of the prioritization meetings to organize the "library of rooms, book cases and shelves" of web folders and pages that nest below the home page. Agreeing on what goes on the homepage and its folders is a major milestone.
• Craft prototypes of the web tools - For any web tool, important decisions need to be made by the client. We help craft a clear plan, flow chart, and set of deliverables so that our software programmers can choose among the different open source software and design option. The client should review progress and provide feedback on a regular and frequent basis.
• Develop Graphics and Visual Identity - Often the client already has a graphic style and image they would like their website to meet. It helps if the client has a graphics person on staff or as a consultant. If they haven't published a lot of material on the web, they will need advice and help to meet quality standard across the many browsers that are out there. The use of templates allows easier graphic continuity.
• Upload Material to the Website – The client will need to decide among the options they have for putting different types of information onto their website - reports, photos, datasets, tables of content, appendices, maps, archived material, and more. As standards and polices are adopted, the web master can be more efficient.
• Beta-test the Solution – Find client volunteers who will review the website and its tools. Make the important changes and review the changes.
• Go Public – The Public Relations people in the organization should have been involved with setting the website goals and priorities. Press releases need to be written and approved. Lists of people and organizations need to be reviewed for who should receive the announcements. Creative ways to market the site should be brainstormed, evaluated and implemented.
• Improve - Observe the site traffic and read the visitors' comments! Improve things that could be done better