Designing a website is a complex process that involves multiple steps and stages. So, what is the first step in the web design process? How exactly do you get started? Let’s find out.

If you were to ask this question from expert web designers, they would have very different answers. Some would say the first step is creating a design brief. Some others would say it’s defining goals, creating wireframes, or finding inspiration. The list goes on.

In a way, there is no one correct answer to this question. As long as you get the job done, it doesn’t matter what you do first in the web design process.

However, there’s one important step that you should try to complete early in the web design process. And that is understanding your client’s needs. That’s what we’re going to discuss today.

Before diving into the topic, let’s first understand what’s involved in the web design process.

Understanding the Web Design Process

No matter how you start designing a website, every web design project involves a set of stages that must be followed to create a complete website design. Those are:

• Research
• Planning
• Wireframing
• Prototyping
• Designing
• Branding and content design
• Testing and revising
• Launch

Each of these stages includes multiple steps that are crucial to completing a website design. And the way you approach each step will determine how effective and efficient the website will be when completed.

For example, there are multiple steps in the wireframing stage. You have to come up with sketches, create mockups, use the right tools to create wireframes, get client feedback, and more.

Here’s why you should start this entire process by first learning about your client.

The First Step: Learn About Your Client

Understanding your client and their requirements is the first step in the research stage of the website design process. When you start a project with this first step, it will make the rest of the process much simpler and easier.

This is not just about getting on a call with the client to ask about their budget, deadline, and what the website should look like. You need to dig deeper to understand your clients in a more meaningful way and figure out what they are really looking to get out of the website.

It’s the key to delivering a successful website design that meets the expectations of the client. And it will allow you to save a ton of time, energy, and effort that goes into every other stage of the website design process.

Key Considerations for Understanding Your Client

Setup a meeting with the client and their teams to get a full understanding of what they’re hoping to achieve with the website.

If it’s about revamping an existing website, it’s even more important to understand what their goals are so that you can help achieve them.

Also, get a clear idea of the scope of the project before moving any further. There’s a huge difference between creating a simple business website and creating an eCommerce website. Take all the precautions you can to manage the score creep.

Of course, make sure to agree on a budget and timeline for the project before getting started.

How to Get Started

Completing the first step of the web design process is quite simple. You just ask questions and take notes! Here’s how.

1. Ask Questions

Whenever a client approaches you and asks for a quote for building a website, your first response should be a list of questions. The same goes for the web design process. You start with a list of questions, which will help you understand the client, their business, the market, and their goals a little better.

If you’re not sure which questions to ask, here are a few important ones to ask right away:

• What’s the main goal you’re aiming to achieve with your website?
• Are there any specific objectives you’re hoping to accomplish through this website?
• Who are your direct competitors?
• What do you want to do differently than your existing website?
• Do you want to add any additional sections to the website, like a blog or landing pages?
• Do you plan on connecting an eCommerce system or adding an online store to the website?
• Do you want to use a specific framework, CMS, or platform to build the website?
• Do you want the website to integrate with any specific applications or tools?

2. Set Clear Goals

Most clients often have wild expectations of website redesigns and revamps. Some even expect to double their sales and boost traffic with a new website.

That’s why it’s important to set clear goals before you get into the web design process. Ask more questions to figure out what kind of goals the client is hoping to achieve with the new website. And get to a mutual understanding by helping the client set realistic goals.

3. Competitor & Market Research

Whether your client is ahead or behind their competitors is not important. What’s important is where your client is headed.

Your client may be going through a brand refresh or entering a new market and it’s your job to figure out what type of website should fit into their situation.

With proper market research, you will be able to understand the current trends in the industry as well as figure out what the competitors are doing to get ahead. Then apply those principles to your design process.

4. Identify the Target Audience

Most website redesigns are often about making a business or brand more appealing to modern audiences and new generations. And that will have a strong influence on how the website design should look like.

If your client is shifting towards a younger Gen-Z target audience, you will have to consider following a design style and a user interface that appeals to them.

This is why it’s important to identify your client’s target audience before you even start wireframing the site layout.

The Next Steps

Once you complete the first step in the web design process, going through the next steps will be much easier.

Since you now have a clear understanding of your client’s goals, the state of the market, and requirements, you can start planning the site design with your team to get the client’s approval.

The rest of the process will be a walk in the park, all thanks to the first (and arguably the most important) step of actually talking to your client and understanding what their needs are.

10 FAQs About the Web Design Process

To help you further your knowledge of the web design process, we gathered some of the common questions asked about web design.

1. How do I effectively gather requirements from a client?

Start with a comprehensive questionnaire or an interview to understand the client’s vision, goals, target audience, and preferences. Listening actively and asking follow-up questions can also help clarify and refine the requirements.

2. What’s the best approach to create a website wireframe?

Use wireframing tools like Sketch, Adobe XD, or Balsamiq to create a visual skeleton of the website. Start with basic layouts, focusing on user experience and site structure before adding detailed design elements.

3. How can I ensure the website design is user-friendly?

Adopt a user-centered design approach, focusing on usability and accessibility. Conduct user research, create personas, and perform usability testing to gather feedback and make iterative improvements.

4. What are the latest trends in web design I should be aware of?

Stay updated by following design blogs, attending webinars, and participating in design communities. Trends like minimalism, dark mode, custom illustrations, and dynamic scrolling effects are often discussed in these forums.

5. How do I choose the right color scheme for a website?

Consider the brand’s identity, target audience, and the psychological impact of colors. Use color theory and tools like Adobe Color to create a harmonious palette that aligns with the website’s goals.

6. What’s the importance of responsive design, and how do I implement it?

Responsive design ensures your website looks good on all devices. Use fluid grids, flexible images, and media queries in your CSS to create a layout that adjusts to different screen sizes.

7. How can I improve the website’s loading time?

Optimize images, leverage browser caching, minimize CSS and JavaScript files, and use a content delivery network (CDN). Tools like Google PageSpeed Insights can help identify areas for improvement.

8. What SEO best practices should I incorporate in the design process?

Ensure the site structure is SEO-friendly, use semantic HTML5 markup, optimize meta tags and images, and ensure fast loading times. Consider mobile optimization and accessibility as part of your SEO strategy.

9. How do I handle client feedback that contradicts design best practices?

Communicate the importance of design principles and how they impact user experience and website performance. Offer alternatives that align with best practices while addressing the client’s concerns.

10. When is the right time to hand over the website to the client?

After thorough testing, including functionality, responsiveness, and user testing, and once all content is finalized and optimized. Ensure the client is trained on how to manage the website, and provide detailed documentation for future reference.