Professional Web Design: Techniques and Templates, Fourth Edition

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Chapter 3 ■ Things to Consider Before Beginning
2. Bandwidth requirements: The way a site is designed will determine how
large of a download the site will require. By understanding the bandwidth
(download size) requirements, a designer can determine the balance between
graphics and text to be used.
3. Resolution requirements: A site with improper resolution can hinder its
usability or credibility.
4. Scalability requirements: Because nearly all sites are in continual evolution,
it is important for the designer to consider how the site can be expanded
or changed in the future.
5. Content requirements: The content volume of a site will influence nearly
all other requirements, including the look and feel, the bandwidth, resolution,
and scalability.
Depending on the size of a Web site, different levels of documentation are necessary.
Many small sites (around 5 to 15 pages) only require the designer and
client to email or call each other during the development process. Larger sites
(more than 15 pages) often require more thorough documentation, which includes
an official requirements document. Without such documentation, the
designer could have a site nearly completed when the client says, ‘‘Oh, that’s not
what I meant. You actually need to do it this way.’’ At that point, changes are not
only time-consuming and painful, but the designer is left in the awkward position
of whether to make the corrections pro bono or charge the client an additional
fee. This mode of edits continually coming in with no foreseeable end is
referred to as scope creep.
Because of documentation time, site requirements might increase the cost of the
site. However, while initially taking more time and money, requirements can
save considerable expense when the designer has everything planned prior to
development.
Take, for example, a 20-field form. Without requirements, the form might start
out at 20 fields. The client, though, after seeing the first draft, says, ‘‘Oh, I forgot
a few items we need to add.’’ They probably do not know that this involves
making changes to not only the form, but also to the database and additional
server-side scripted pages that complete the functionality. And that is just the
first draft. The client might then run the form by a peer or boss who will have