Phase 3: Explore

To build the blueprint for your site. Before we start designing pretty pages or writing final copy, we need to decide exactly how the site will be organized, how people will find information, and who is responsible for keeping that information fresh.

A beautiful site is useless if users can’t find what they need. By focusing on strategy and structure now, we ensure your site is intuitive, easy to navigate, and sustainable for your team to manage long-term.

We’ll determine what content serves your users’ goals and create a clear plan for who writes, approves, and maintains your pages.

We’ll create a visual map using a tool called FigJam that shows every page on your site and how they all connect.

We’ll help decide what goes in your main menu and how we label those buttons so they are clear and helpful for your visitors.

We’ll map out the common paths for your top users. For example: How does a student get from the homepage to registering for your specific event in three clicks or less?

Don’t worry about colors or photos yet. Focus on the flow. If a student can’t find your Contact Us page in a black-and-white sketch, a fancy design won’t help.

Use labels that make sense to someone who doesn’t work in your office. Avoid internal acronyms or jargon in your navigation menu!

Typically 3–4 weeks.

• Content Strategy Document
• Sitemap & Navigation Map
• Page Templates List