Web design companies typically follow a relatively structured process to ensure that they get all the pertinent information from the customer and quickly identify and resolve future issues. From requirements gathering to scrum-based development practices, companies aim for a repeatable process where they can reliably deliver results that please their clients.

When you look to have a website professionally built by a team as we have at INVID, you will invariably see a «storyboard» at some point in the process. What is a storyboard, and how does it make for better sites? Here’s what you need to know!

Web Design: What Is a Storyboard?

As the name implies, a storyboard is effectively a simple mockup of the website focusing on functionality instead of graphics or text. Some people call the storyboard the blueprint for the web project. Indeed, the purpose of a storyboard is to ensure the client and developers are all on the same page when it comes to functionality.

A storyboard will be as basic as possible and will typically tell the story of a user’s journey through the site.

Consider a basic example of a corporate website that lets the user log in to view a message board where people can post updates and see what’s going on in the company.

That storyboard would start with the login screen. It would define, roughly, what needs to go on that screen. There’s maybe a space for the company logo, some sign-in box, and a button to click to log in. The user would click that button and either see an error or see the next screen, the message board. On that message board would be some basic blocks for text, avatars, and a text field to enter in your new updates. Once the user types something in and clicks the button, the update will show up.

There’s no graphics design nor any coding at this point. But, through this simple storyboard, we’ve already solved and agreed upon one of the most fundamental aspects of web design: what will the user experience be? That’s the critical question that storyboards aim to solve.

How Do Storyboards Make Better Sites?

Storyboards make better sites because they strip away all the graphics, animations, and other nuances and focus on the part that matters most: the core customer experience.

If you play video games at all, you’ve likely encountered a game with superb graphics and fantastic sound but wasn’t fun. Many sites, sadly, fall into this trap. Your site can be incredibly flashy and have the best design, but it will fall flat if it doesn’t work intuitively and doesn’t help the customer or your employees.

Storyboards force people to take a step back from the site’s flash and «coolness» and instead focus on the basics – its functionality!

Ensure Your Next Web Project Starts with a Storyboard

A storyboard is an essential component for successful web design. You’ll want to have that storyboard early in the process so you can iron out any potential issues before the developers start coding. Therefore, on your next project, make sure that you ask the web team to present a storyboard of the site design as soon as possible!

If you are interested in having your site done professionally, please contact us. And, yes, we use storyboards in our process!