How we create a modern web design
A great website isn't decorated into existence — it's designed, step by step, from strategy to polish. Here's exactly how our Bolton studio takes yours from a blank page to launch-ready.
Our web design process
Every WillowTree project moves through the same six stages — it's the process behind all of our web design services. You're involved at each one, so there are no surprises — just steady progress you can see.
A clear web design process is what separates a website that looks nice from one that actually wins customers. By planning the strategy, structure and content before we design anything, we make sure every page has a job. That might be getting the phone ringing, filling your booking diary or selling products online.
Whether you need a brand-new site for a small business, an online shop or a redesign of an existing website, the steps below stay the same. Each one ends with something you can see and approve, from the first moodboard to a fully working website. Mobile-friendly design, fast load times and search engine optimisation are built in from the start, not added at the end.
Discovery & strategy
Before a single pixel is placed, we learn your business: your goals, your audience, and what you need the website to achieve. We look at what your competitors are doing and where you can stand out.
Modern design starts here — a site can only look "right" once we know exactly who it's talking to.
Direction & moodboard
Next we set the visual direction: colour palettes, typography, imagery style, and the overall personality — crisp and corporate, warm and organic, bold and playful. You pick a direction from real visual examples, not abstract descriptions.
Wireframes & structure
We sketch the skeleton of every page: what appears, in what order, and why. Wireframes are deliberately plain — they let us get the layout, hierarchy, and user journey right before styling enters the picture.
This is where modern design earns its speed: a clear structure means visitors find what they need in seconds.
Visual design
Now the direction and the wireframes come together into polished, pixel-perfect designs. Generous white space, a clear type scale, purposeful colour, and consistent components — the hallmarks of a modern interface — applied to every screen size from phone to desktop. Want to see the end result? Browse our portfolio.
Build & refine
The approved design is hand-coded into a fast, responsive, accessible website. No bloated templates or page builders — clean code keeps load times under a second and search engines happy. Read more about how we develop websites.
We sweat the small stuff here: hover states, spacing, motion used sparingly and only where it helps.
Launch & grow
We test across devices and browsers, tune performance and SEO, then launch. After that, your site is a living thing — with our care & maintenance we monitor, maintain, and improve it so the design stays modern long after day one.
Web design process FAQs
How long does it take to design a website?
Most small business websites take around 2 to 3 weeks from our first chat to launch. A website redesign usually takes 3 to 5 weeks, and larger sites or online shops can take longer. We give you a clear timeline with your quote, and the quicker feedback comes back at each stage, the faster we can go live.
What are the stages of the web design process?
Our web design process has six stages: discovery and strategy, visual direction and moodboard, wireframes and page structure, visual design, build and refine, then launch and ongoing growth. You see and approve the work at the end of each stage before we move on.
What do I need to prepare before starting a website?
Very little. It helps to have your logo, any photos you'd like to use, a rough idea of the pages you need and a few websites you like the look of. If you don't have all of that yet, don't worry. Our discovery stage is designed to work it out with you.
Can I make changes to my website design along the way?
Yes. Feedback is built into every stage, from the moodboard to the wireframes and final designs. Sorting changes early, before anything is built, keeps your project on time and on budget.
Will my website work on mobile phones?
Yes. Every website we design is fully responsive, so it looks and works well on phones, tablets, laptops and desktops. Most visitors now browse on their phones, so we design for small screens from the very start.
Is SEO included in the web design process?
Yes. Every site we build includes SEO as standard: keyword research, page titles and descriptions, a clear heading structure, structured data, image alt text, fast load times and a sitemap submitted to Google. Find out more about our SEO and growth services.
What happens after my website goes live?
Launch is just the start. With our care and maintenance plans we look after hosting, security, updates, backups and small changes such as new pages or prices, so your website keeps working for you while you run your business.