They laughed. Then they asked me what I meant.
Here’s the honest answer.
Most web designers start with the design. I start with your business.
There’s a common pattern in web design projects. A client comes in, shares a few websites they like the look of, picks some colours, and a few weeks later they have a beautiful website. Job done.
Except, is it really done?
Does that website actually do anything for the business? Does it speak to the right people, in the right way, about the right things?
Too often, the answer is no. And it’s not the client’s fault. It’s because nobody stopped to ask the important questions before a single pixel was placed.
That’s where I do things differently.
Before I design anything, I want to understand your business
When we work together, some of the first questions I’ll ask you won’t be about fonts or colours. They’ll be questions like:
- Who is your ideal client? Not just “businesses” or “anyone really” – who specifically?
- What do you want visitors to do when they land on your site? Call you? Book a consultation? Buy something? Just trust you more?
- What makes you different from your competitors? What’s the thing that, once someone hears it, makes them think – “that’s exactly who I need”?
- What’s not working at the moment? Where are enquiries getting stuck?
These are business questions. And the answers shape everything about how your website gets built.
Your website should be working for you, not just sitting there looking pretty
A website that just looks good is like a brochure no one picks up. A website that’s built around a clear business purpose – that’s a tool. It attracts the right people, answers their questions before they’ve even asked them, builds trust, and makes it easy for them to take the next step.
That’s what I’m building when I work with you.
I’m not just thinking about layout and typography (though those matter a great deal). I’m thinking about the journey your visitor is on – what they need to see, what they need to feel, and what they need to do next.
What this looks like in practice
It means our initial conversations might feel more like a strategy session than a design brief. I’ll ask questions. I’ll push back a little if something doesn’t quite add up. I might suggest that what you think you need and what your business actually needs are two different things.
That’s not me being difficult. That’s me doing my job properly.
Because anyone can make a website look good. What I care about is making your website work.
If that sounds like the kind of web designer you’ve been looking for, I’d love to have a conversation. No pitch, no pressure – just a proper chat about your business and what your website could be doing better.
Get in touch and let’s talk.
