Checklist: What to Look For
✅ Portfolio — real examples
- A variety of website types: corporate sites, landing pages, online stores. This shows the designer understands different business needs.
- Mobile + desktop: the site should look and function perfectly on mobile devices.
- Speed and usability: easy navigation, readable content, and strong focus on key actions (“Buy,” “Contact,” etc.).
✅ Reviews and recommendations
- Client feedback shows how the designer works: do they meet deadlines, listen to revisions, and offer support after launch?
- If there are few reviews, ask for contacts of previous clients so you can speak with them directly.
✅ Clear project scope and workflow
- There should be a clear plan: what will be done, how long it will take, and what’s included in the price (design, development, responsive layout, basic SEO setup).
- Ideally, you should have a contract or at least a written agreement to avoid misunderstandings.
✅ Post-launch support
- Bugs, errors, or adjustments may come up. A good designer offers at least minimal support in the first weeks after launch.
- Clarify the cost of additional work (changes, updates, mobile refinements, if needed).
✅ Understanding your business and goals
- A designer shouldn’t just create “pretty pictures” — they should offer solutions: highlight the main CTA, think through the customer journey, and focus on your target audience.
- Ideally, they ask questions about your business, offers, and clients — this is a sign that the site will work, not just exist.
✅ Full access and ownership for the client
- All access to the website, hosting, CMS, analytics, and other services (WordPress, Tilda, hosting panel, domain, Google Analytics, etc.) must be registered under you as the business owner.
- The designer is a contractor, not the administrator of your digital assets. Everything should be stored on accounts owned by you or your company — not on the designer’s private accounts.
- Clarify this from the start — it will save you from issues later (switching contractors, losing access, becoming dependent on one specialist).
How to Test a Designer Before Hiring
- Ask to see similar projects (same niche, task, or website type) to understand how the designer solved comparable problems.
- Discuss your brief — a good specialist will immediately ask clarifying questions and suggest possible solutions: structure, key elements, what matters for your audience.
- This reveals whether they understand the business side of design — not just “visuals for the sake of visuals.”
Conclusion
Choosing a web designer is not just selecting an artist — it’s choosing a partner who can influence your business success online.
Use the checklist: analyze portfolio, reviews, understanding of your goals, and willingness to support the site. A good specialist is not the one who makes it “pretty,” but the one who makes it effective.
Your next step: prepare a project brief, create a small sketch, talk to the candidate as a long-term partner — and you’ll get a website that truly works for your business.
If you’re planning to order a website but aren’t sure how to write a proper technical specification — start with a brief. It’s a quick and convenient way to structure your thoughts and help the designer understand your needs.
📌 There is a ready-made form on my website: fill out the Brief — it’s free and takes only a few minutes. After that, we can discuss your project clearly and without unnecessary back-and-forth.