MSD: Case Studies

Here we take you through the entire process of creating a Web site, from concept through launch.

Every Web site is unique, but these featured step-by-step case studies will give you a good idea of what expect when working with MSD to create your Web site.

See also: Case Study #2:
Website redesign

 
  Case Study #1: Original Web site for Small Business

Company/Client:
Language Directions, LLC.
Location:
Roseland, New Jersey
Web site launched:
November 2005

 Company Description: Language Directions is a full service language training company specializing in tailor-made, short and long-term instructional programs. They offer English as a Second Language, Accent Modification, Foreign Language, and many other highly-effective Communication Training Programs.

Start:

Initial
meeting

MSD meets with the owner of Language Directions on conference call, then communicates primarily through email. Client sends MSD their approved logo (see right) and gives the following rough outline of what they were looking to achieve with their Web presence:

  • Client is looking for a clean, open Web site with ample white space
  • There will be 5-6 sub sections
  • Client would like some movement on the opening page
  • Looking to get decent search engine result placement

MSD recommends that the above could be achieved in the most cost-effective manner with an HTML Web site with Flash elements. Client had already reserved the domain name www.languagedirections.com, but did not have Web site hosting secured, so MSD volunteers to help locate and facilitate hosting for the new site. Client agrees, and MSD begins concept phase.

 

2 weeks:

Concept
phase:
first drafts

 
     
MSD provides the three above designs to the client. These are flat image looks used only to show design layouts, not functioning websites.
Client chooses a version of option #3, with modifications, and process proceeded to programming stage.

3 weeks:

Opening
page

MSD presents functioning version of the approved design for the opening page of the new Language Directions website.
Web page included:

  • Fully functional Web page, optimized for fast loading time, tested on all common browsers to display correctly
  • Flash animation, with file size minimized, and pre-loader (an animation that plays while the Flash file loads)

Client sends text for the opening page, and MSD moves to inner page design phase.

 

4 weeks:

Inner
pages


Taking elements from the front page design, MSD creates an inner page template.
Client approves, and the inner website page sections are created and content added.

5 weeks:

Finalize & launch

With the Web site programmed and populated with content , MSD adds the following final touches:
  • Search engine META search key terms to help the Web site be located by major search engines
  • Code that causes the scroll bar in certain browsers to match the color scheme of the Web site
  • added browser favicon image (a small image from the website that sits in front of the URL in the browser)
   
 

Five weeks after the initial client meeting, this Web site was launched.
See the final result at: http://www.languagedirections.com