Both start with a vision and a plan. Before you build anything, you need to know what you want, why you want it, and how it should function. In web development, this means defining your goals, audience, and structure before writing a single line of code, just like creating blueprints before pouring a foundation.
Because skipping the planning stage causes problems later. If you start building without understanding the purpose, navigation, or user flow, you’ll end up redoing work, just like moving walls after a house is built. Clear planning saves time, money, and frustration.
Your digital blueprint includes your sitemap, wireframes, and content strategy. It shows how each page connects, what information goes where, and how visitors will move through your site. Once that’s solid, development becomes much smoother, just like construction runs faster when the design is locked in.
“Architect is the designer of the dream space into which a dreamer brings a subject … it’s the chance to build cathedrals, entire cities, things that never existed. Things that couldn’t exist in the real world.” – Cobb from Inception
Websites are a reflection of our reality. Reality is different for everyone. Some like to spend their time to travel and meet new people. Some like to stay in one place and are satisfied with constant routine.
And there are some who like to stay in the dream world between physical space of running a business and digital world of web development. The first and the last are the activities I try to balance out.
Whenever I travel to different places, I always watch for unique buildings or architecture that cannot be found in my hometown.
Why? Because architecture is a form of art that is designed to make people’s dreams into a reality. Its techniques can also be used as an inspiration for developing websites.
While architecture takes up physical space in the real world, websites take up digital space in the World Wide Web.
How exactly are websites similar to architecture or building a home? The following is phases applied by both:
What do you think is involved in architecture or building websites after the planning and design phases?
Do you have anything in mind? You may already have some of the ideas if you have read my previous blog posts.
Frances Naty Go is the founder of Goldlilys Media, where she helps mission-driven organizations turn their websites into clear, durable systems that support meaningful work over time. She works with museums, nonprofits, health and wellness brands, higher education, life sciences, travel organizations, and expert-led businesses.
With a background in Computer Science from UC San Diego, Frances brings a thoughtful, strategic approach to building digital experiences that educate, orient, and build trust, without unnecessary complexity.
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