Article
Plan before design: a better website starting point.
A redesign can feel urgent when a website looks dated. But starting with colours or layouts often leaves the real problem untouched. A short planning phase gives design work a clear purpose.
Design cannot answer an unanswered question
If nobody has agreed who the priority visitor is or what they need to do, visual decisions become subjective. The result may look polished while still leaving visitors unsure what the site is for.
A short brief changes the conversation
Before choosing a layout, write down the audience, the visitor task, the essential page questions and the evidence needed to answer them. This gives every contributor something concrete to work from.
Start small, then improve
You do not need a detailed specification for every future page. Begin with the pages that support the most important visitor tasks, publish them well and review what needs to grow next.
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