6 Tools I Use for Every Client Site Design
Learning new systems can be overwhelming, which is why we like to keep things simple when working with our clients. We use 6 different tools during a website design project and all of the platforms that we use were chosen because they are straightforward and easy for our clients to understand.
1. Asana
Asana is our primary form of communication during the website design process! All presentations, revisions and feedback will be submitted through Asana. This allows us to keep everything in one place that’s easy to use.
You can see what’s coming next (for both me and you), deadlines for different stages of the design process, and see how far along we are. Both clients and our design team can make comments in Asana and both get an email notification on any updates, so it’s easy to keep up-to-date on how things are going.
2. Zoom
We use Zoom if an in-person meeting is needed at any portion of the design process. We love Zoom because it feels like a virtual coffee date. Zoom also allows us to easily share our screens with one another, which makes giving feedback a breeze!
Most of our clients are already familiar with Zoom (especially now that many schools are using Zoom for lessons and businesses for meetings), so it’s an easy tool to add to our toolbox and doesn’t take much time to learn. Plus, it integrates with our Dubsado scheduling links, so meetings are automatically created.
3. Dubsado
Dubsado is our client management system. All invoices, contracts and questionnaires will be sent through Dubsado and clients can view all of their project documents in their unique Dubsado client portal at any time.
I’ve been using Dubsado for years now and it’s what keeps me sane because everything is in one place and it’s easy to use.
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4. Google Drive
During the project, we use a designated Google Drive folder to share content (copy and images). I organize the folder at the beginning of the process with sub-folders for each page so that things stay organized. I also upload all of the project PDFs here so that they are easy to find in the future.
5. Loom
Loom is a video recording tool that we love!
When it comes time to reveal any part of a project, clients receive a PDF along with a Loom video walking them through the document and the design. This allows us to share our decision-making process and talk through any animations, changes, or make other comments that aren’t easily communicated in writing.
6. Adobe XD
We design mockups in Adobe XD. XD is a great tool for website design because it allows for quick edits and gives clients an actual URL to view their mockup. When they receive an XD link, they can see what the website will really look like and also be able to click on links to see how pages connect.
It also makes feedback easy because you can add comments to any part of the page with a pin - much faster than describing where someone wants the change to happen.
All six of these tools are an important piece of the website design process and allow projects to move faster because everything is organized and in one place. And because not every client will already be familiar with these tools, I include a video recording walking through each one and how to use it.
