A £10m+ Web Design Workflow Revealed (I Learnt This From Large Agencies)

Summary

Tristan Parker, a six-figure solo web agency owner, shares his step-by-step process for delivering a custom web design project. After onboarding the client, the fulfillment process is divided into three key phases: design, build, and launch. Parker explains how he gathers requirements, conducts keyword research, mood boards, and creates custom designs for the client. The build phase involves setting up a WordPress environment and ensuring responsive design for all devices. Finally, the project culminates in a site launch, delivering a fully functional website tailored to client needs.

Takeaways

• 💻 The process of delivering a web design project for a six-figure solo agency includes three main stages: design, build, and launch.
• 🤝 The onboarding process ensures all client requirements and goals are gathered before moving forward with design.
• 🎨 The design phase, which takes about 2-4 weeks, includes gathering goals, keyword research, sitemap creation, mood boarding, and homepage design.
• 🔑 Keyword research and site mapping are integrated early in the design phase to ensure SEO optimization and to define key service pages.
• 🖼️ Mood boarding (style guiding) helps clarify typography, imagery, and design components before actual design work begins.
• 🏠 The homepage is designed first, often with only one version, and then sent to the client for feedback before designing subpages.
• 📧 Client feedback is an integral part of the process, with pre-set email templates used to request feedback at different stages.
• 🛠️ The build phase is more hands-off for the client, taking 2-8 weeks, and includes creating a WordPress environment and constructing pages based on the signed-off designs.
• 📱 Responsiveness is crucial, with desktop-first design being tested on mobile and tablet to ensure compatibility across devices.
• 🚀 The launch phase involves migrating the website to the client's domain, taking around 48 hours, with final client approval before going live.

Q & A

What are the main stages of the web design process according to Tristan Parker?

The main stages of the web design process are the design, build, and launch phases. Each of these stages contains several micro-steps that ensure the project is completed to the client's satisfaction.

How does Tristan Parker gather the initial requirements for a web design project?

Tristan gathers the initial requirements through conversations with the client and an onboarding questionnaire. This helps him understand the goals and specific needs of the client’s project.

Why does Tristan include keyword research and site mapping in the design process?

Tristan includes keyword research and site mapping to ensure the website is optimized for SEO from the start. He uses this research to determine the pages the site needs to rank well for specific keywords and locations.

What is the purpose of mood boarding or style guiding in the design process?

Mood boarding or style guiding helps Tristan explore typography, fonts, imagery, and other design elements before moving forward with the project. It sets the visual direction and ensures alignment with the client's preferences.

Why does Tristan design the homepage first before moving on to other pages?

Designing the homepage first ensures that the client is happy with the overall look and feel of the site before proceeding with the internal subpages. It avoids the risk of designing an entire site that doesn't meet the client's expectations.

How does Tristan handle client feedback during the design phase?

Tristan sends clients an email template asking for feedback and provides a video walkthrough of the design. Clients can either respond via email or arrange a call to discuss their thoughts, ensuring their satisfaction with the design.

What is Tristan’s approach to building the website?

Tristan builds the website on a subdomain to maintain control until the final payment is made. He uses WordPress and Elementor to construct the site and implements client-approved designs.

How does Tristan ensure that the website is responsive across different devices?

Tristan designs for desktop first and then tests the site on mobile and tablet devices. He physically checks the website on mobile to ensure it provides a smooth user experience across all platforms.

How does Tristan handle the website launch process?

Once the client approves the website, Tristan migrates it to the client’s hosting environment or from his subdomain to their main domain. The entire launch process takes around 48 hours to account for any domain propagation.

What role does testing play in Tristan’s web development process?

Testing is crucial in Tristan's process to ensure that the website functions correctly on all devices, loads quickly, and meets the client's goals. He tests for broken links, images, and overall functionality before launch.