What to Expect During a Website Redesign Project

Every redesign should start with discovery: - Review current site analytics and performance - Identify what's working and what isn't - Define goals for the new site - Understand your target audience - Audit existing content - Research competitors This phase typically takes 1-2 weeks and shapes everything that follows. Skipping discovery leads to redesigns that look different but don't perform better.

Before any design work, we structure the site: - Create a sitemap showing all pages and their relationships - Define the main navigation structure - Plan user flows for key actions - Organize content logically Good information architecture makes sites intuitive to navigate. Users should find what they need without thinking about where to click.

With structure defined, design begins: - Create wireframes showing layout without visual design - Develop look and feel concepts - Design key page templates - Get feedback and iterate - Finalize designs for all page types Expect 2-3 rounds of revision. Be specific with feedback—'I don't like it' isn't as helpful as 'the blue feels too corporate for our brand.'

Approved designs get built: - Set up the development environment - Build the frontend (what users see) - Implement the CMS or backend - Add functionality and integrations - Ensure responsive design works - Optimize performance Development typically takes 3-6 weeks depending on complexity. You'll usually have access to a staging site to review progress.

Content needs to move to the new site: - Migrate existing content that's still relevant - Write new content for new pages - Update outdated content during migration - Optimize images and media - Set up redirects for changed URLs Content often takes longer than expected. Plan for it early and avoid last-minute rushing.

Before going live: - Test on multiple browsers and devices - Check all forms and functionality - Verify SEO elements are in place - Test performance and loading speed - Get final client approval - Plan the launch timing - Prepare post-launch monitoring Launches often happen midweek to allow time for quick fixes if needed.