Web Design Agency | Website Design Services

Phase One: Strategy and Planning

Effective web design begins with a clear strategy. Before any creative or technical work starts, we focus on understanding your goals, audience and internal priorities. This isn’t about vague discovery sessions. It’s a structured process designed to define outcomes, remove uncertainty and guide the direction of the entire project.

At this stage, we hold a project kick-off meeting to agree objectives and outline expectations. This includes identifying key stakeholders, agreeing success measures and reviewing any potential limitations. We then map the site’s structure, building a logical sitemap that reflects your content and user journeys. This becomes the backbone of the entire build.

We also assess your existing assets. That includes reviewing available copy, photography, brand assets and any third-party tools that need to be integrated. If content needs to be created or refreshed, we flag it early so there are no surprises later in the process. Accessibility requirements and compliance standards are also identified upfront.

By the end of this phase, everyone is aligned. You’ll have a documented plan, a confirmed sitemap and a clear understanding of what comes next. This clarity sets the foundation for an efficient, collaborative and focused design process. Nothing moves forward without it.

Phase Two: Creative Exploration and Concept Design

With the strategy and structure in place, we move into the creative phase. This is where the visual direction of the website begins to take shape. It’s not about design for design’s sake. Every decision is made with usability, clarity and brand alignment in mind. From layout to typography, each element is considered and intentional.

We start by creating wireframes that define structure and content hierarchy. These help to map out how key elements like navigation, calls to action and page sections will behave. Once the layout is agreed, we move to high-fidelity designs, applying your brand identity to the page visuals. Colours, fonts, imagery and interface components are all tailored to your brand guidelines.

Both desktop and mobile designs are produced to ensure consistency across all devices. Accessibility, legibility and user flow are central considerations. Every design is built to accommodate real-world usage, not just to look good in isolation. Where possible, we include actual content rather than placeholders to avoid surprises later in development.

At this point, all stakeholders are invited to review and provide feedback. We incorporate this input and refine the design until a final concept is agreed. These signed-off visuals are essential. Development only begins once the full design is approved. That ensures efficiency, avoids unnecessary rework and gives the project a clear creative blueprint.

Phase Three: Web Development

Once designs are signed off, we begin development. This is where visuals are translated into a fully functioning WordPress website. We build everything from the ground up using clean, secure and search-friendly code. There are no themes or page builders involved. Everything is bespoke and built to perform.

We start by setting up a development environment and coding the structure in HTML5, CSS3 and PHP. Content is loaded manually, and components are built using a responsive framework to ensure the site performs well across all devices. Our developers pay close attention to usability, performance and accessibility from the outset.

Functionality is configured at this stage too. This may include contact forms, third-party integrations, advanced navigation, site search and anything else specified in the brief. If your website includes features like HubSpot, Google Tag Manager or WCAG compliance, these are set up and tested during this phase.

By the end of development, the website is fully functional and ready for review. All content will be in place, and the site will be visually and technically complete. It’s not the final step, but it is the point where the structure is locked and the project moves into testing. Every element has been designed and coded with care.

Phase Four: Testing

With the build complete, the website enters a structured testing phase. This is where functionality, compatibility and user experience are checked across browsers, devices and operating systems. Testing ensures that everything works as intended before the site goes live.

We begin by testing on Windows, Mac, iOS and Android. Browsers such as Chrome, Safari, Firefox and Edge are included in this stage. We simulate real-world usage to identify any layout shifts, rendering issues or inconsistent behaviour. This includes navigating menus, completing forms and interacting with all content blocks.

We also check for accessibility and performance. Image optimisation, responsive behaviour and any remaining code issues are addressed. If you have specific accessibility or WCAG requirements, they are fully reviewed here. 301 redirects are also created at this point to ensure there are no broken links or SEO issues post-launch.

Client feedback is welcomed during testing. You’ll be invited to review the site and flag anything you want adjusted. If changes are needed, they are handled efficiently and documented for transparency. This is the last opportunity to make structural tweaks before launch.

Testing ensures the final product is stable, consistent and ready for public access. It’s an essential step that protects the quality and performance of the site before anything is made live.

Phase Five: Launch

Launch is the final step in the process, but it’s more than just switching a site live. It requires a methodical handover to avoid downtime, preserve SEO and ensure everything works as expected. Every launch is carefully managed and coordinated with your team.

We begin by backing up the development site and preparing it for transfer. The site is then moved to the agreed server, and DNS is updated to point the domain to the new location. We double-check all 301 redirects, configure the cookie consent tool, and confirm that all forms are delivering as expected.

Google Tag Manager and Google Analytics are also configured or transferred, depending on your setup. If you’re using Cloudflare or WP Rocket, we ensure those services are integrated and functioning correctly. This helps improve performance and reduce load times immediately after launch.

Once the site is live, we complete a final round of checks. This includes confirming that the SSL certificate is active, that all contact forms are routing correctly, and that no errors are present in the live environment. From there, the project is officially complete and the website is handed over for ongoing use.

A well-executed launch sets the tone for how the website will perform in the weeks and months to come. Our process ensures that nothing is left to chance and that your website is stable, fast and ready to support your objectives from day one.