Behind the Design: the Custom Design story

Our international Custom Design team helps transform even the smallest spark of an idea into a vivid concept, and then into a truly unique website that beautifully fits an organization’s mission, values, and people. The process to get there is filled with multiple (and sometimes tedious) layers; however, the journey is one they look forward to every time. 

Breaking ground on “the vision”

The thought of starting the journey with a new custom design client is something Custom Design Coordinators never stop looking forward to. These members of the team understand our custom design clients better than anyone else. A big part of the coordinator's role is to spend time with the client, and really dig deep to understand their wants and needs for their new website design. Just ask our long-time coordinator, now leader of the team, Cindy Russell:

“Those first client meetings are filled with excitement and hope. I always enjoy meeting new people, learning about them, what they do, and what makes their church, school, ministry, or business unique.”

- Cindy Russell, eCatholic Custom Design Coordinator

The design coordinators work to understand the client’s story because a website should clearly reflect the organization behind it, while also functioning to serve multiple needs. Once the story, vision, and needs are identified, a design concept is discussed. Now the groundwork has been laid, and the process is passed onto the graphic design stage. 

Framing the design

Following the visioning process, one of our Graphic Designers peruses all the information initially shared in order to create an appearance to a currently inconspicuous concept. Establishing a visual representation of everything discussed might be intimidating for some; however, like all of our designers, Amy Leung doesn’t shy away from putting her design work out there.

“I enjoy coming up with original design ideas. It is a challenge to take client requirements and suggestions, along with their former site content, and then create a design that addresses all of those needs.”

- Amy Leung, eCatholic Graphic Designer

Drawing on the client’s story and information, Amy pulls additional inspiration from various imagery and stock photos - especially those with church-related content. Like all our in-house designers, she constantly pays attention to popular design trends, noticing how they present information and direct visitors through the site. After discerning how everything will integrate into a design, our designers continue to sketch out more options for the client to consider.

Engineering all the fixtures

Once that first vision has been established and fulfills a preliminary round of revisions, the finalized design is handed off to CSS Web Developers. This team translates the visual concept into a website that will soon live on the eCatholic platform.

As recent as the start of this year, eCatholic has sought additional coding specialists to help keep up with custom design work. Spanning from the far corners of North America and Poland, the distance doesn’t stop them from working together and composing the formulas that transform linear concepts into beautiful, easy-to-use websites.

“Each custom design is unique, and some even have features that are outside of the ‘normal’ way of things. To overcome these challenges, we have to be creative and think outside the box when coding. Sometimes it takes a team effort of brainstorming and collaboration to get it done!”

- Kristen Kalinoski, eCatholic CSS Developer

Turning over the keys

Once coding is complete and our team has thoroughly tested the website, and content is added and finessed, the launch button is ready to be pushed. 

“Due to all of the time, effort, and sense of responsibility, the moment of going live with a new custom site is filled with feelings of anticipation, excitement, and even ... anxiety!”

- Cindy Russell, eCatholic Custom Design Coordinator

As it goes "live", our design team and our clients waste no time celebrating the new site's success! Joining in on the excitement are the remaining eCatholic team members who, once they receive word the design is up and operating, pause their work to quickly jump online and explore the new site.

The celebrations never get old, and the journey never ends. This is because as every custom website comes to life, our design team walks away having overcome new challenges and gaining new inspiration. It’s what makes them ready for the moment the next message arrives with a new client who is at the start of another journey.