There’s much more to great website design than meets the eye. Not only should a website look stunning, but it must also be high performing, simple to navigate, and accessible on any device.
With so many elements to get right, it’s easy to overlook key details in the rush to go live. This is where a web design checklist can help.
In this article, we’ll share with you the ultimate website design checklist, so you can deliver pixel-perfect websites on time, every time. We’ll cover the following areas, as well as some tools that can help you automate repetitive processes:
The website design process involves a lot of different elements. There’s the aesthetics of design to consider, as well as the website’s security, accessibility, and performance. A lot can go wrong.
Website design checklists are a highly effective way to systematise and standardise this process, resulting in:
Superior outputs
Consistency and quality across projects
Fewer mistakes
Greater accountability
More efficient processes
Happier clients
In other words, a website design checklist is a simple yet powerful way to improve your design process, allowing you to deliver better websites faster.
With all that said, here’s our ultimate website design checklist.
1. Pre-design considerations
Before you start working on a website design project, you need to set the foundations for your work, ensure that you and your client are on the same page, and make key technical decisions. Follow these steps to set yourself up for success.
Gather client information the simple way with Content Snare
Web design is complicated enough without having to worry about chasing clients for missing content, documents, or information. With Content Snare, you can build custom checklists and web forms, set automatic reminders, and gather all the info you need in one place.
Your job as a designer is to ensure that the websites you create are easy to access, navigate, and enjoy for every single user. The following steps will help you achieve that.
Cross-browser compatibility
Check that the website works equally well on all browsers, including Chrome, Firefox, Safari, and Edge
Check that all JavaScript features, interactions, and animations run smoothly on each browser
Customise your error pages (e.g. 404 page) to provide helpful and relevant information to users
Test error handling processes and ensure users are guided properly in case of errors
3. Website performance
The website you’ve designed might look great, but if it’s sluggish and bug-ridden, users won’t hang around for long. By following these pointers, you can ensure that your website runs as well as it looks.
Page load speed and performance optimisation
Check the website's loading speed
Makes sure all images are optimised and compressed
Minify HTML, CSS, and JavaScript files to remove unnecessary characters and white spaces
Minimise HTTP requests and enable browser caching
Optimise and reduce the number of external resources (scripts, fonts, stylesheets) to minimise HTTP requests
Evaluate and remove any unnecessary plugins or scripts that might impact performance
4. Content, search engine optimization, and social media
When it comes to driving website traffic and converting leads, content is king. By following these steps, you’ll deliver outstanding content and get it in front of as many eyes as possible.
Content proofreading and formatting
Check that all website content is well-written, free from grammatical errors, and in line with your client’s brand guidelines or style guide
Check that all content has consistent formatting, font styles, and sizes
Ensure that all content is accurate, up-to-date, and aligned with the client's requirements
Besides high performance and great design, your clients want to know that their website is safe to use. Follow these steps to guarantee website security.
Note: You may need to work alongside a cybersecurity expert to complete this checklist effectively.
Basic security measures
Install an SSL certificate on the website that loads over HTTPS
Apply a Web Application Firewall (WAF) to protect against common cyberattacks
Update all website software and plug-ins
Protect against Brute Force Attacks by limiting log-in attempts, implementing CAPTCHA, or using account lockouts
Perform penetration testing and a vulnerability assessment
Set up security monitoring systems to detect and respond to security incidents or unusual behaviour
6. Final reviews
The last step before launching a website is to get other people’s opinions — and the more, the better. Make sure you follow these steps before going live.
Internal review
Get feedback from as many internal staff as possible, from inside and outside of the design team
Make any necessary changes based on feedback
Client review
Get feedback directly from your client
Make any necessary changes based on feedback
Work smarter and faster with a web design checklist
A quick look through the website checklist we’ve provided in this article will prove one thing: website design is complicated. With so many elements to consider, it can be a nightmare staying on top of everything.
With a web design checklist, you can rest assured that you’ve covered every angle and ticked every box. The result will be a website that looks beautiful and works like a dream.
Build client checklists with Content Snare
Gathering the information you need to design the perfect website needn’t be a hassle. With Content Snare, you can create custom checklists with ease, or use one of our ready-made templates.
