App Project Process

We start with your idea and concept for what you would like your App to do. We also delve deeper into who your intended audience is, what platforms or devices you would like it to work on (Apple, Andriod, Windows – All 3!!) and does it need to talk to or integrate with other existing systems?

Once we know everything that you want the App to do and how you want it to do it, we have a much better idea of how we will build it.

Once we have a better understanding of how you would like your App to work, we put together a System Specification. This is a document that explains exactly what the App will do and how it will operate from a technical point of view.

This is the most important part of the process for us as it this is the document we will follow to build the App. We will refer back to this at every part of the process, so if it’s not in this document it won’t be in the final build!

Once you are happy we have understood your requirements and the system spec is signed off – it’s show time!!

This is the design version of the system specification and will involve us working with you to map out exactly how you would like the App to look and what type of user journey is important. We take inspiration from all the Apps you like, avoid things from Apps that you don’t like and take on the role of your audience so we can be sure your App will be intuitive and easy to use.

We also keep in mind the device type we are building this for as Android and Apple often have set ways of doing things that will influence our decisions.

Once we have the basic understanding of how you want the App to look, we take these ideas and create a wireframe design. This is a basic layout of boxes that show where key areas will be such as navigation, content areas, media boxes, logos, footers etc. in outline form.

This stage allows us to work through the App to check the flow between pages and to see if the layout will work for your content. At this stage it’s much quicker and easier to move things around to make sure we have the right look, feel and flow

Once we have the correct layout and flow, we take the wireframe pages and add our styling magic! Working with your brand guidelines or creating a fresh new look we bring the key page designs to life.

Using the key designed pages, or sometimes the wireframes, we stich these pages together as a clickable online prototype. Although this is online and not as an App just yet, the prototype does allows you to click through the key pages to make sure you are happy with how the pages work together.

To get a better idea of how this will finally function on the smaller screen, we always suggest you go through the online prototype on the type of device we will build the app for e.g. iPad, iPhone, Android tablet etc.

Once the App is designed and we know how it’s going to work, then we think about the content that will go into it. In some instances you will already have this, but we can help if this is a brand new venture.

This happens once the designs have been signed off. The step sees us building the functionality that the users will interact with and gives the site its overall look and flow.

Depending on what your App needs to do this could be where all the time of the project is spent, as this is where the magic happens!! The back end coding is the engine room of your App and will ensure that it does all the clever things that you want it to do.

This is an on going part of the process as we continually test and re-test as we go, but once everything has been brought together we do one big test to make sure that everything works as it should.

Don’t forget – if we are building your App for an Apple device then we will need the UDID of the iPhone or iPad you want to test it on so we can package the App up for you

Once the hard work is over and you are happy with everything we will submit your App to the relevant stores for you. It’s always best that you set up accounts on these stores in your company name so that we can submit them on your behalf.

That’s it!  The end of the process and the design and build of your shiny new App for the App stores…