How to plan a website redesign: Key questions answered

Working closely with marketing executives, I often receive a bunch of recurring questions before starting a new website redesign project (sometimes also after, but that’s another story!).

I thought of sharing them here since these questions cover different aspects of web design, from the redesign process itself to what happens after launch.

You want to make sure you address these questions before you start the redesign of your company website. Knowing the answer to these questions will help you and your company move forward fast with design and development. Below, I’ve listed them, hoping they help you gain clarity and set the right expectations before starting your project.

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What does a redesign project look like?

This is one of the most common questions. It’s normal that you want to know what process we’ll follow to redesign your website. The answer can vary a lot depending on the agency, studio, or freelancer you work with. That said, most website redesign projects follow a process similar to this:

1. Planning – Define both strategic and operational needs. What business goals do you want to achieve? What pages need redesigning? Do you need to add new ones? Will you be improving SEO structure?
2. Conceptualization – Once the plan is clear, define the content and design requirements. This includes sketching page content and creating high-level design mockups.
3. Inspiration – Collecting inspiration from other websites is helpful. If you’re undergoing a rebrand, this step may already be covered. If not, it’s essential to align expectations on look and feel.
4. Design – High-fidelity designs are created using tools like Figma, ensuring alignment on structure, layout, and visual elements before development.
5. Development – Once the design is finalized, it’s implemented on a CMS (e.g., WordPress, Webflow, Framer). Many tools now streamline this step to speed up the process.
6. Refinement and Testing – Before going live, final testing ensures all links function correctly, the site is fully responsive, and performance issues are resolved.

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While this provides a high-level view of the process, every project has its nuances. At Sparkr, we tailor the approach based on the specific needs of each client.

One key factor in a successful redesign is clarity on roles and responsibilities. So with Sparkr, we offer two models:

• Done for You – We handle everything from start to finish, with clients providing feedback along the way.
• Done with You – Clients take the lead by providing materials (e.g., copy), while we offer feedback and guidance.

Understanding these models helps set the right expectations from the start.

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Web Design vs. Web Development: What’s the difference?

Now that the redesign process is hopefully clearer, it’s easier to distinguish between web design and web development.

• Web Design involves creating the visual structure of a website using tools like Figma or Adobe. At this stage, the site is not yet live.
• Web Development is the process of turning the design into a functional website using a CMS (e.g., WordPress, Webflow).

A common question is: Can’t we just start with development? While this might seem like a shortcut, experience shows that skipping the design phase leads to inefficiencies and higher costs. Jumping to development inevitably ends up requiring more revisions and results in a disjointed final product.

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How long does a web design project take?

The timeline varies depending on the agency and scope of work.

• A simple redesign can take a few days.
• A mid-sized project can take several weeks.
• More complex redesigns may take 1–2 months.

At Sparkr, small projects typically take about three weeks, while larger ones range from four to five weeks.

What can speed up or slow down a redesign project?

Things that speed up a redesign project:

• All materials (copy, branding, images, links) are ready upfront.
• There is a clear style guide or mood board.
• The project timeline and deliverables are well-aligned from the start.
• Feedback is specific, consolidated, and timely.
• A single communication channel is used to streamline discussions.

Things that slow a redesign project:

• There is uncertainty about design direction.
• Feedback is vague, requiring multiple clarifications.
• Multiple stakeholders need to approve changes, but they are uncoordinated or unavailable.

By addressing these factors early, you can ensure a smoother redesign process.

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How much does It cost to redesign a website?

This is, unsurprisingly, one of the most frequent questions.

Pricing varies across agencies, studios, and freelancers. Some charge hourly, while others offer project-based pricing.

At Sparkr, we price projects individually based on the number of pages. Our projects typically range from €2,000 to €10,000.

However, cost is not just about the price—it’s about what’s included. Ask yourself:

• Will you provide the website copy, or does it need to be written?
• Is branding already established?
• Will the design be fully custom, or based on templates?
• What CMS will be used?

These factors impact both cost and long-term control over your website. Clarifying them upfront helps avoid unexpected costs later.

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Have more questions? Let’s talk.

If you’re considering a website redesign and have more questions, feel free to reach out. At Sparkr, we help companies navigate the web design process, ensuring their websites are not only visually appealing but also strategically effective. Let’s discuss how we can make your redesign a success!

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