Key takeaways
- Website design has six main stages: discovery, proposal and contract, UI design, development, content and testing, and deployment and training.
- Each stage should have a clear output and your approval, so work does not go backwards.
- Having your content ready (copy, images, logo) has the biggest effect on finishing on time.
- Timing depends on the type of site: from about two weeks for a portfolio site to several months for a custom platform.
The website design process at a glance
| Stage | What happens | Output |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Discovery | A conversation about the business, audience, goal of the site and essential features | Requirements list and suggested plan |
| 2. Proposal and contract | Scope, timeline, approval stages and price are defined | Signed proposal and contract |
| 3. UI design | Pages are designed around the brand identity, with revision rounds | Approved final design |
| 4. Development | The site, admin panel and server side are built | A preview version you can open |
| 5. Content, technical SEO and testing | Content entry; headings, metadata, speed and mobile are checked | A site ready to launch |
| 6. Deployment, training and support | Launch on a server with SSL and backups; admin training | A live site and the start of the warranty period |
Stages one and two: discovery, proposal and contract
The discovery call establishes what the site should do for the business, who its audience is and which features are essential for the first version. Features that are not needed yet move to a later phase so cost and time do not rise for no reason.
The result goes into the proposal: the list of pages and features, the timeline for each stage, the number of design revision rounds, the approval stages and the final price. Once agreed, the same points are written into the contract and become the basis of the work.
Anything that is not written in the proposal becomes a point of dispute later. If a feature matters to you, ask for it to be listed explicitly.
Stages three and four: UI design and development
First the main pages are designed, so you can see and comment on the look and layout before any code is written. Changes at this stage are quick and cheap; after development, restructuring a page takes longer. The number of revision rounds is set in each plan, so gather feedback in one place and from one decision-maker.
Once the design is approved, development begins. At Shahin Group the site is built with Next.js, the admin panel with React and the server-side API with Node.js and Express.js. During this stage you get a preview version so you can follow the progress.
Stages five and six: content, testing, deployment and training
- 1Initial content (up to the limit of each plan) is entered into the site.
- 2Heading structure, metadata, page URLs, the sitemap and the mobile view are reviewed.
- 3Forms, payment, SMS and the core scenarios are tested on the preview version.
- 4The site is deployed on a cloud server with an SSL certificate and regular backups, and the domain is connected.
- 5Your team is trained to manage the site through the admin panel.
- 6The bug-fix warranty and infrastructure management period begins.
Documents and information to prepare before you start
Tick the documents you have ready; your progress is saved on this device.
How long does website design take?
Timing depends on the scope of the project. Delivery times in Shahin Group's plans are as follows, and the exact timeline is written into the proposal after discovery.
| Type of site | Delivery time |
|---|---|
| Portfolio site (up to 5 pages) | 10 to 14 working days |
| Corporate site (up to 12 pages plus a blog) | 18 to 25 working days |
| E-commerce site | 30 to 40 working days |
| Custom platform | From 3 months, after requirements analysis |
Frequently asked questions
Where does website design start?
With discovery: defining the goal of the site, its audience and the essential first-version features. Design and development begin once the scope is agreed.
What delays a website project most often?
Content that is not ready, scattered or late feedback, and new features added mid-project. Naming one decision-maker and preparing content from the start prevents most delays.
What happens if I want a new feature mid-project?
A new feature is outside the contract scope, so its time and cost are estimated separately and added to the proposal. It is usually better to move it to a later phase so the first version launches on time.
Who enters the content into the site?
In Shahin Group's plans, our team enters initial content up to a set limit (for example 5 pages in the Portfolio plan, or 12 pages and 5 articles in the Business Pro plan); you provide the copy and images.
What happens after the website is delivered?
The bug-fix warranty and first-year infrastructure management begin. New features, design changes and extra content entry are quoted separately.
Can I see progress while the work is under way?
Yes. Page designs are sent for approval before development, and a preview version is available during the development stage.
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