Now it is time to actually build the site. There are two major steps during this stage: Technical/Functional Plan and, Build and Integrate the Site.

Technical/Functional Plan

Step 1: Start by reviewing the Project Brief, Site Structure and Visual Design and confirm that everything is in alignment and supports the overall project goals and needs.

Step 2: Set the technical/functional specifications for the site:

• Target Technical Specs - what browsers, OS, resolution and connection speeds will you target.
• Browsers* - what browsers will you target? see UT's web guidelines on browsers
• Operating Systems* - Mac, Windows, Other?
• Display Resolution* - what is the screen resolution the site will be designed for? what other screen resolutions will be supported gracefully?
• Connection Speed* - what is expected connection speed for your primary users, what other connection speeds will you target?
• Page Download Size - 30K and under 30-80k (typical page) 80-100k (graphic heavy) 100k+ (not recommended unless all users are high-bandwidth)
• Browser, platform and display resolution statistics Connection Speed Functional Specs - what functionality does your site require? Use of W3C web standards is recommended to insure that your site pursues the goals of web for everyone and web on everything.
• CSS
• Flash
• (X)HTML version
• JavaScript
• Rich Media (video, audio)
• Search - htdig and google at UT
• Secure Credit Card Transactions
• Backend Technologies (database, cgi, CMS, personalization, login)
• Web Analytics - Urchin Statistics for your site at UT

Step 3: Project Plan - Refine and add details to the project plan you drafted during the Project Definition Stage. Our plan now includes a detailed list of concrete tasks, assignments, target dates and dependencies between tasks.

Build and Integrate the Site

Finally! Time to turn all this planning into reality!

The steps include:

Build templates using web standards  

• CSS - separate presentation from content
• (X)HTML - use valid (X)HTML
• Javascript - add light scripting, make sure to degrade gracefully and maintain accessibility
• Optimize - optimize images, css and (x)html
• Run initial tests on templates.

Create Pages 

• Pour content into templates
• Establish method for content contributors to review, update and add content

Backend Development - Code dynamic features of the site that require database/cgi and integration

• Search
• personalization/login
• secure transactions
• web analytics