PCRelease Boston Web Designers & Developers

Here is Our Process

We have a secret formula that helps us determine how long a project will take, what the overall cost of service will be and how we can offer our clients an edge over their competition. Project prices are flexible since we offer a wide variety of web design services and can tailor the quote specifically to our clients needs.

Our design and development method is an 8 part process that begins with the initial meeting and is finished with the final transfer of the completed files and/or documents.

8 Phases

1: Initial Meeting To Determine Our Clients Needs

After the initial free consultation, we meet with the client to determine their needs and desires. This meeting is, perhaps, the most important of all. We will discuss each of objectives and all the details regarding the clients overall goals.

Additionally, we will need as much inspiration as possible so that we can put the client's vision on paper and eventually into graphical format. It helps to gather a list of websites that the client enjoys, advertisements and other paraphernalia that have caught your eye. If the client is unsure of the design altogether, we are happy to use our creative talent to put together some concepts from scratch.

After laying everything out on paper and being certain that each part of the project has been disclosed, we conclude the meeting and begin determining how we will structure the design and development of each part of the client's project.

2: Determining a Quote

This is a quick process. We take into consideration four important components:

Deadlines and amount of time required for each designer,
The client's budget,
Technical skills required, and
Artistic and creative talents involved.

With these four elements, we are able to formulate a price for all of the services required. Once established, the quote is presented to the client in writing.

3: Initial Concept Design (Websites Only)

Before a written contract is signed, we will be happy to create a mock version of the website to ensure that everyone involved is on the same page. This will be a barebones website structure with some navigation and minimal graphics. This will help us further determine that we're on the same page with the client and that we have our priorities aligned.

At this point, no contract has been signed and no agreements have been made.

4: Agreement/Contract (30% Down)

The agreement phase is vital to ensuring that all parties involved are committed to the project and that our work is appreciated. Our short 4 page web design contract is straightforward and very easy to understand. This agreement protects our clients and our designers. Having been in business for more than 10 years, we have learned that sometimes things are better to have in writing. Every new project requires signing our contract.

The contract addresses all aspects of the assignment, such as:

Time and phases allocated for each portion of the project,
All services to be performed,
Alterations and our editing policy,
Who owns the design work that has been completed, and
Who is in charge and who writes the checks to us.

Before any work is started we require 30% down to show that our clients are as committed to the project as we are. If the project is of considerable size, this percentage may be negotiable.

5: The Design Crunch

This is where the fun gets started. We jump head first into your project and build everything needed for your objectives and overall goals. If necessary, we will subcontract (hire out) some parts of the assignment to freelance programmers and specialty designers. After a specified amount of time, we will merge the layout, graphics, navigation system, text, functionality, seo capabilities and other elements of your project into one refined and consolidated product.

The design crunch stage is by far the most time consuming part of our operation. This is where we help our client realize the visuals and functionality that they have been anticipating.

6: Personal Review of Progress

Once we have a strong and presentable product, we'll make it available for the client and the client's review committee to critique. At this point, the client is to finely comb through everything developed so far and create a list of "likes" and "dislikes". Once this list has been established, we will discuss each of them with the client in detail. We typically prefer meeting in person or on Skype to examine the revisions that the client is requesting. It is always easier to communicate when the project is visible to both parties simultaneously.

7: Final Alterations - 2 Rounds of Editing

Once we learn of all of the changes that the client requires, we will start making the changes. Alterations can include entire project redesign or small changes to what we have already produced.

We offer two cycles of alterations, in which we will be happy to make any changes that the client would like. Alterations are an important part of web and graphic design. This is the stage where the client's vision is brought to fruition. We suggest being very careful when determining which alterations should be made. These changes will have a large impact on the project's final result. We grant each client two rounds of alterations. If the client would like additional alterations after the second round has passed, the client will be required to compensate our designers for their additional time based on a hourly rate that was previously agreed upon in the design contract.

8: Final Meeting & Remaining Payment

Once the two rounds of alterations are completed and the final project has been inspected in it's entirety, we will meet one last time. At this point the final payment will be accepted in order to receive the final masterpiece. During this meeting we will discuss the clients overall experience and determine if there are additional services they may need.

9: Closing File Transfer & Backup

After final payment, our studio will launch the final product and submit a backup copy to the client for their safekeeping. Our office cannot guarantee the length of time that we will retain a copy of the project in our own file system after the completion date.

We suggest that our clients backup all of the work they own to protect themselves against potential loss. We will gladly retain a backup of the work that we have completed for a fee.