If you’re considering hiring a designer or agency to create your website, one of the most important things you can do is ask: What’s your web design process like?
Understanding a designer’s process from start to finish is key to ensuring a smooth and successful project. At Chico Web Design, we follow a clear, collaborative, and well-organized process that’s designed to deliver high-quality results—while keeping you in the loop every step of the way.
1. Discovery & Strategy
Every successful website starts with a deep understanding of your business, audience, and goals. In this first phase, we’ll ask questions about your brand, your ideal customer, and what you want your website to achieve—whether that’s generating leads, booking appointments, selling products, or simply building trust.
We’ll also review any existing content, branding, or competitor sites you admire to guide the creative direction.
2. Design & Layout
For smaller websites, we typically begin by designing the homepage first. This allows us to establish your site’s visual style, branding, and navigation structure in one key piece. Once the homepage is approved, we move on to the remaining internal pages.
For larger websites or more complex builds, we often start with wireframes or mockups to map out content layout and user flow. This step helps ensure the site structure works well before any design details are added.
3. Collaboration & Feedback
We believe in transparent communication and ongoing collaboration. We’ll provide regular design updates and check in before making major changes, so you always know where your project stands. These updates are the perfect time to give us your feedback and request any revisions. This approach helps us stay aligned and prevents wasted time going in the wrong direction.
4. Development & Build-Out
Once designs are finalized, we move into development—turning static mockups into a fully functional, responsive website. We build most of our sites using WordPress and Elementor, giving you a great balance of flexibility, performance, and ease of use.
We’ll also make sure your site is optimized for SEO, fast loading times, and mobile responsiveness.
5. Testing & Launch
Before launch, we rigorously test the site across different devices and browsers, checking functionality, speed, and usability. Once everything is perfect, we’ll schedule your site launch and make it live to the world.
We also offer secure hosting on HIPAA-compliant servers—ideal for clients in medical and professional industries.
What’s the Typical Timeline?
Timelines can vary depending on the scope of the project, but here’s a general estimate:
- Small websites (5–7 pages): 3–5 weeks
- Medium to large websites: 6–10 weeks
- Custom features or complex builds: Timeline determined after discovery phase
Having a clear design process sets expectations, streamlines communication, and helps ensure your website turns out exactly how you envisioned. At Chico Web Design, we’re committed to creating websites that look great, perform well, and support your business goals—while making the process smooth and collaborative from start to finish.
Need help with a new website? Give us a call! 530.893.5257
Get a free quote HERE.