Digital & Web
      Back to home
      1. BS LLC Help Center
      2. Digital & Web

      Design Finalization or Design Freeze

      Design freeze is the final stage of web development. Functionality and design are locked website production quotes are produced.

      Introduction

      In the process of developing a website or application, it's crucial to have clear stages that keep the project on track. One important stage is the UI Design Freeze. This article explains what a UI design freeze is, why it's important, and provides detailed examples of what can and cannot be changed after the freeze. We've made sure to define any technical terms so that everyone can understand, regardless of their background.

      What Is a UI Design Freeze?

      A UI (User Interface) Design Freeze is a point in the project timeline where the main design elements of a website or application are finalized and locked in. After this point, changes to the core design aren't allowed without going through a formal process. This helps the development team work efficiently, knowing that the blueprint they're following won't change unexpectedly.

      Breaking It Down:

      • User Interface (UI): This refers to everything a user interacts with on a website or app—the buttons they click, the text they read, the images they see, and how all these elements are arranged on the screen.
      • Design Freeze: "Freezing" the design means that the design is locked in place. Think of it like putting a design in a frame—once it's framed, you don't alter the picture inside.

      Why Do We Implement a UI Design Freeze?

      The main reasons for a UI design freeze are:

      1. Establish a Clear Blueprint: Finalizing the design ensures that everyone knows exactly what the end product should look like.
      2. Efficient Development: Developers can code without worrying about changes that might require them to redo their work.
      3. Stay on Schedule: Preventing last-minute changes helps keep the project on time.
      4. Control Scope: Avoiding unexpected additions or changes prevents the project from growing beyond its original plan (also known as "scope creep").

      What Can Be Changed After the UI Design Freeze?

      While the core design is locked, certain elements can still be updated as long as they don't affect the overall layout and functionality. Here are the specifics:

      1. Text Content (Copy)

      What Is "Copy"?

      • Copy refers to all the text content on the website or app, including headings, paragraphs, button labels, product descriptions, and more.

      What Can Be Changed?

      • Updating Text: You can change the wording of the text, such as fixing typos, rephrasing sentences for clarity, or updating information.
      • Character Limit Rule: The new text must fit within the same space as the original. This means it should have the same or fewer characters to avoid disrupting the design layout.

      Examples:

      • Headings: If a heading says "Welcome to Our Store" (19 characters), you can change it to "Shop With Us Today" (17 characters), but not to "Discover Our Wide Range of Products and Services" (47 characters), which is much longer.
      • Paragraph Text: A product description that is 100 words can be updated as long as it remains around 100 words so it fits in the designated space on the page.
      • Button Labels: If a button says "Sign Up" (7 characters), you can change it to "Join Now" (7 characters), but not to "Register for an Account Today" (27 characters).

      2. Images and Graphics

      What Can Be Changed?

      • Swapping Images: You can replace images with others, provided the new images have the same dimensions (width and height) and orientation (portrait or landscape).

      Examples:

      • Product Images: Replacing a product photo with a new one of the same size to showcase a different angle.
      • Banner Images: Swapping the homepage banner image for a new promotional image, as long as it fits the same space.

      3. Links and URLs

      What Can Be Changed?

      • Link Text: The clickable text (also known as anchor text) can be updated, following the same character limit rules as other text.
      • Destination URLs: The web address that the link points to can be changed.

      Examples:

      • Link Text: Changing "Learn More" (10 characters) to "Discover" (8 characters) is acceptable. Changing it to "Find Out More About Our Comprehensive Services" (47 characters) would not be acceptable without adjusting the design.
      • URLs: Updating a link from pointing to "www.example.com/old-page" to "www.example.com/new-page" is permissible.

      What Cannot Be Changed After the UI Design Freeze?

      Certain elements are fundamental to the design and cannot be altered without a formal change request. These include:

      1. Layout and Structure

      What Is Layout and Structure?

      • This refers to how elements are arranged on the page—the placement of text, images, buttons, menus, and other components.

      What Cannot Be Changed?

      • Positioning of Elements: Moving a button from the top of the page to the bottom.
      • Adding or Removing Sections: Introducing a new testimonial section or deleting the contact form.
      • Changing Component Sizes: Making a sidebar wider or a header taller.

      Examples:

      • Module Arrangement: If a section is designed with an image on the left and text on the right, you cannot swap them to have the text on the left and the image on the right.
      • Adding New Sections: You can't add a new "Featured Products" section in the middle of the homepage.

      2. Functional Components

      What Are Functional Components?

      • These are interactive elements that perform actions, like forms, shopping carts, search bars, and navigation menus.

      What Cannot Be Changed?

      • Altering Functionality: Changing a single-step checkout process into a multi-step process.
      • Adding New Functions: Introducing a live chat feature or a new filtering system for products.

      Examples:

      • Forms: You can't add new fields to a sign-up form, like adding "Company Name" when it originally only asked for "Name" and "Email".
      • Navigation: Changing a simple menu into a complex mega-menu with multiple columns and images.

      3. Overall Site Structure

      What Is Site Structure?

      • This refers to the overall organization of the website, including the number of pages and how they are connected.

      What Cannot Be Changed?

      • Adding or Removing Pages: You can't add a new "Blog" page or remove the "Contact Us" page.
      • Changing Navigation Paths: Altering how users move through the site, like changing menu items or footer links.

      Examples:

      • Sitemap Changes: You can't rearrange the hierarchy of pages, such as making "Services" a subpage under "About Us" when it was originally a main menu item.
      • URL Structure: Changing the URLs from "www.example.com/products" to "www.example.com/shop/products" isn't allowed.

      Why Can't These Elements Be Changed?

      Changing these core elements can have significant impacts:

      • Development Time: Developers may need to rewrite code, which takes extra time.
      • Testing: New features or layouts require thorough testing to ensure they work correctly.
      • User Experience: Changes might confuse users if they alter how the site works or feels.
      • Budget and Resources: Additional changes can increase costs and require more resources.

      What Happens If Changes Are Needed?

      If you believe a change to a non-editable element is necessary after the UI design freeze, you must submit a formal Change Request. This process involves:

      1. Submitting a Request: Clearly describe the desired change and why it's important.
      2. Review Process: The project team will assess the impact on time, cost, and resources.
      3. Approval or Denial: Based on the review, the change will be approved or denied.
      4. Adjustments: If approved, the project timeline and budget may be adjusted accordingly.

      Examples Summarized

      Acceptable Changes:

      • Updating Copy Within Limits:

        • Original Button Text: "Get Started" (11 characters)
        • New Button Text: "Join Now" (8 characters)

      • Swapping Images of Same Size:

        • Original Image: A 400x300 pixel photo of a laptop.
        • New Image: A 400x300 pixel photo of a tablet.

      • Changing Link Destinations:

        • Original Link Text: "View Details" (12 characters)
        • New Link Text: "See More" (8 characters)
        • Updating the URL the link points to.

      Unacceptable Changes Without a Change Request:

      • Altering Layout:

        • Moving the sidebar from the right side to the left side of the page.
        • Changing a three-column layout to a single-column layout.

      • Adding New Features:

        • Introducing a new "Customer Reviews" section on the homepage.
        • Adding social media integration that wasn't in the original design.

      • Changing Site Structure:

        • Adding a new "Careers" page to the main navigation.
        • Removing the "FAQ" page from the footer links.

      Conclusion

      Adhering to the UI design freeze is essential for the smooth progression of a project. It ensures that the development team can work efficiently without unexpected changes disrupting the workflow. While you can still update text, images, and links within specified guidelines, core design elements must remain unchanged unless a formal change request is approved. By understanding and respecting these guidelines, we can all contribute to delivering a successful project on time and within scope.