WebsiteDesignOutsource.com blog
Use a Content Inventory Workshop Before Website Design
A short inventory workshop helps a distributed website design team agree what exists and what needs a decision.
An inventory workshop is useful when a spreadsheet alone cannot settle ownership or page status. Keep the session focused on facts and decisions that affect design.
Bring the current list
Start with URLs, titles, page types, owners, status, and known dependencies. Mark uncertain entries rather than filling gaps with assumptions.
Resolve the important questions
Ask which pages must remain, which can be combined, which need new content, and who approves each change. Do not rewrite every page during the workshop.
Record evidence and next steps
Add analytics, support questions, legal constraints, or search context when they change priority. Give every open item an owner and a date.
Hand the result to design
Provide the inventory, priority order, route notes, and approved page jobs. The designer can then focus on structure instead of rebuilding project history.
Further reading
Source
GOV.UK Service Manual, content design
Frequently asked questions
Who should lead the workshop?
Someone who can keep the group on decisions and record ownership. That person does not need to own every content area.
What happens to uncertain pages?
Keep them visible with a named owner. Uncertainty is useful information when setting the design sequence.