Accessible and interactive websites that meet your needs and expectations.

About the Designer

marek urban in his ottawa web design studio I have extensive experience in website design and development, web accessibility, and web based content management systems. Before opening my freelance web design studio I worked on the Canadian Digital Information Strategy at Library and Archives Canada.

The Strategy aims to improve access to digital information and establish a national infrastructure for the preservation of Canadian digital heritage.

I hold a Master’s degree in Information Science , a Bachelor's degree in Arts and an Honours degree in Social Science from the University of Western Ontario.

I work and live with my wife and children in Ottawa, where I enjoy meeting friends and clients for some fair-trade coffee.

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Design Process

Website Design and Development Process

Consultations and Needs Assessment

At the initial stage, together we discuss your goals for the website, what type of content already exists and what still needs to be created. We discuss what your visitors and clients expect to find on your site. We analyze your industry or sector, if applicable, to see what others do right and where they go wrong.

Next, we create a project plan, a schedule and clearly identify goals. I draft a Web Production contract, giving you opportunity to review it before asking you to sign it.

When signing the contract, I ask for 40 percent down payment of the total fee.

Structure and Design

As the next step, I work on the following:

auditing existing content and outlining new content
creating taxonomy
creating site map
setting names and labels
designing layout and site navigation
designing visual components and editing images

You are then presented with a draft and are given time to evaluate the design and to add your comments and suggestions. We would repeat this process. Please note however, that if your requests for revisions significantly differ from the concept outlined in the contract, you should be advised that additional costs and time might be required.

Following your response, I concentrate on the following:

setting up content management system (CMS), or
inserting content and coding XHTML elements
applying design and styles
basic search engine optimization (SEO)
proofreading and editing

Testing

The website then is uploaded to a testing server where we can test for usability and accessibility, proofread again and again, and make any necessary editions and revisions. Depending on the size of the project, you are given one to two weeks to test the web site.

Final Approval and Payment

Upon your final approval, the website is moved to your server space under your domain name. I submit your site to Google, Yahoo, and MSN search engines. The remaining fee is then generally due within 15 days. Other payment arrangements may be considered.

Voilà! Your website is up and running, attracting multitudes of visitors and perhaps even helping young people find love.