How does a web designer (freelancer) design a website structure?

Question

Freelance

Hello. I have long been interested in the question of how a web designer (freelancer) designs the structure of a site. After all, designing has essentially turned into an independent direction, with its own specialists, research methods, etc. I perfectly understand that a web designer is not a person who simply “colors and creates”, but is it really that the vast majority of web designers conduct research on the target audience, develop information structure and section schemes of the future site? Or maybe the customer first turns to the designers, and then to the web designers?

Answer 1

Ideally
, 1. the designer, based on the words of the customer, creates a map of meanings, approves
2. the designer writes a brief, where he asks various things like "Should there be collider drawings on the hyperduper marketing page? if yes, please send them", "do you like blue or green sites more ?" And so on.
3. the designer draws prototypes for all extensions, some designers immediately draw layouts, the prototype is easier in terms of editing.
4. The designer draws layouts if he has not previously drawn them.

Answer 2

Whatever the project, I always draw up user scenarios and a detailed project map in a mindmap, looking at which you can already suggest structure options, and after that move directly to the wrapper.

Answer 3

Personal opinion, a web designer is a multifaceted specialist who is versed in design, layout, programming, advertising, promotion, marketing, system administration, and other things, in the philosophy of the Internet. Yes, for him design, prototyping, layout, drawing, everything related to pen and paper - this is the main thing. But all the side areas that are described above - you don’t need to know thoroughly, you just need to be aware of the latest trends, know what where you can see what is a trend, what is fashionable and how world designers work ....
After that, when all this is in the baggage of your knowledge, it’s easy to start any project with a general comprehension, reflection, concentrating, with a pencil and paper, well, it started ....
That's when real masterpieces appear, or at least projects that are not inferior to high-quality sites that the customer is always satisfied with.