What Does a Website Designer Do?
A website designer plans and creates the look, layout and user experience of a website. Their work helps businesses, organisations and individuals present information clearly, build trust and make it easier for visitors to take action.
Website design is about more than choosing colours and arranging images. A well-designed site should be attractive, easy to navigate, accessible to a wide range of people and effective on mobile phones, tablets and desktop computers.
What does a website designer do?
The exact role depends on the project and the designer’s specialisms, but it may include:
- Planning the site structure: Organising pages and information so visitors can find what they need.
- Creating layouts: Designing page templates, menus, buttons and other elements.
- Choosing visual styles: Applying colours, typography, imagery and other brand elements consistently.
- Designing for different devices: Making sure the site works well on phones, tablets and larger screens.
- Improving the user experience: Making important tasks, such as finding contact details or completing a purchase, straightforward.
- Considering accessibility: Helping people with different needs use and understand the website.
- Working with developers and content teams: Turning design plans into a functioning website and making sure the content fits the design.
Some website designers also build websites themselves, using platforms such as WordPress or website builders. Others focus on design and collaborate with a developer who handles the technical implementation.
Website designer or web developer?
The terms are sometimes used interchangeably, but they usually describe different areas of work. A website designer focuses on how a site looks and feels, including its layout and ease of use. A web developer focuses on the code and technical features that make the site work.
There is overlap. Some professionals offer both design and development, while larger projects may involve separate designers, developers, writers and digital marketing specialists.
Why good website design matters
Your website may be the first place a potential customer encounters your organisation. A clear, professional design can help visitors understand what you offer and decide what to do next. A confusing or outdated site, on the other hand, can make it harder for people to find information or feel confident in your business.
Good design can also support practical goals, such as generating enquiries, encouraging bookings, selling products or sharing useful information. It should be based on the needs of your audience as well as your brand preferences.
When should you hire a website designer?
You might consider hiring a designer if you are:
- Launching a new business, organisation or personal project
- Replacing a website that looks dated or is difficult to use
- Moving to a new content management system or website platform
- Adding new services, products or features
- Finding that visitors struggle to navigate the site or complete key tasks
- Looking for a more consistent online brand
For a small, simple website, a template may be enough. A designer can still help you customise it, choose a suitable structure and make sure the finished site reflects your needs.
How to choose a website designer
Before hiring a designer, consider your goals, budget and timescale. It also helps to gather examples of websites you like and make a list of the pages and features you need.
When comparing designers, look at their portfolios and ask questions such as:
- Have they worked on projects similar to yours?
- What is included in their design service?
- Will they also build the website, or will you need a developer?
- How will they make the site responsive and accessible?
- Who will provide the text, images and other content?
- What support is available after the site launches?
- Who will own the website files and design assets?
Ask for a written proposal that explains the scope of work, deliverables, payment terms and likely schedule. Clear expectations can help prevent misunderstandings later in the project.
What to expect from the design process
A typical website design project starts with a discussion about your organisation, audience and goals. The designer may then map out the site structure and create early layout concepts. After gathering your feedback, they refine the designs and prepare them for development or build the site themselves.
Before launch, the website should be checked across different screen sizes and browsers. Content, links, forms and other key features should also be tested. Once the site is live, it may need regular updates, maintenance and improvements based on how people use it.
How much does a website designer cost?
The cost varies according to the size and complexity of the project, the designer’s experience and whether the work includes development, content, branding or ongoing support. A simple brochure site will generally require less work than a large online shop or a site with custom features.
Rather than comparing prices alone, check what each quote includes. A lower upfront price may not cover essential services such as responsive layouts, testing or post-launch support. The right choice is a designer who understands your requirements and explains clearly how they will meet them.
Final thoughts
A website designer can help turn your ideas into a site that is clear, appealing and straightforward to use. Whether you need a complete redesign or help improving a few key pages, start with your audience and the purpose of the website. With clear goals and a good working relationship, you can create a site that supports your organisation well into the future.
9 Essential Tips for Website Designers
- Understand the client’s goals before designing.
- Keep layouts clear and easy to navigate.
- Design for mobile screens first.
- Choose accessible colours and readable fonts.
- Use consistent spacing and visual styles.
- Optimise images to keep pages fast.
- Make calls to action easy to spot.
- Test designs across browsers and devices.
- Ask for feedback and refine the design.
Understand the client’s goals before designing.
Before starting a design, take time to understand the client’s goals, audience and priorities. Ask what they want visitors to do, which information matters most and how they will measure success. A website designed around these needs is more likely to be useful and effective than one based on appearance alone. Clear goals also help guide decisions about the site’s structure, content, features and visual style.
Keep layouts clear and easy to navigate.
Keep layouts clear and easy to navigate so visitors can find the information they need without frustration. Use a logical page structure, descriptive menu labels and consistent design elements, and make important actions easy to spot. A simple, well-organised layout also works better across mobile devices and helps create a more positive experience for everyone.
Design for mobile screens first.
Design for mobile screens first by planning how your website will look and work on a phone before adapting it for larger screens. Keep navigation simple, make text easy to read, use buttons that are comfortable to tap and place the most important information where visitors can find it quickly. A mobile-first approach helps create a smoother experience for users on the go and makes it easier to scale the design up for tablets and desktops.
Choose accessible colours and readable fonts.
Choose colours that provide strong contrast between text and its background, so your content is easier to read for people with visual impairments and in different lighting conditions. Avoid relying on colour alone to communicate important information, and select clear, legible fonts at a comfortable size. Thoughtful colour and typography choices make your website more inclusive and pleasant for everyone to use.
Use consistent spacing and visual styles.
Use consistent spacing and visual styles throughout your website to create a clear, polished experience. Keep margins, padding, typography, colours and button styles consistent across pages, so visitors can navigate the site easily and recognise how different elements work. A consistent design also helps your content feel organised and makes your brand more memorable.
Optimise images to keep pages fast.
Optimise images to keep your website fast and easy to use. Resize each image to the dimensions it will appear at, choose an efficient format such as WebP where supported, and compress files without noticeably reducing quality. For images further down the page, consider lazy loading so they only load when visitors scroll towards them. These simple steps can reduce page-loading times, particularly on mobile connections.
Make calls to action easy to spot.
Make calls to action easy to spot by using clear, action-led wording such as “Get in touch” or “Shop now”, and giving buttons enough contrast to stand out from the rest of the page. Place them where visitors are likely to need them, while keeping the design consistent and uncluttered. A prominent, easy-to-understand call to action helps people take the next step without having to search for it.
Test designs across browsers and devices.
Test your website designs across different browsers and devices before launch. A page that looks polished on a desktop may display differently on a mobile phone or behave unexpectedly in another browser. Check that layouts adapt to various screen sizes, text remains readable, buttons are easy to use and all key features work as intended. This helps create a consistent, accessible experience for every visitor.
Ask for feedback and refine the design.
Ask for feedback and refine the design throughout the process, rather than waiting until the website is complete. Share early layouts with people who represent your intended audience and ask whether the pages are easy to understand and navigate. Use their comments to identify confusing elements, improve usability and make thoughtful adjustments. Regular feedback helps ensure the finished design meets both your goals and your visitors’ needs.