Designing a website isn’t just about making something that looks good.

It’s about building something structured, intentional, and functional, across devices, content types, and user flows.

If you skip steps, things break.
If you rush structure, the design feels messy.
If you forget system thinking, scaling becomes painful.

Here’s a practical website design checklist to make sure your projects are clean, complete, and client-ready.

1. Start With Inspiration (But Don’t Copy)

Before you design anything:

- Collect reference websites

- Screenshot layout ideas 

- Study navigation patterns

- Analyse spacing and hierarchy

Inspiration helps you understand:

- Industry standards

- User expectations

- Visual trends

But remember: inspiration is direction, not duplication.

2. Define the Mobile Layout First

Start mapping your layout for smaller screens.

Focus on:

- Clear content hierarchy

- Logical vertical flow

- Strong, visible CTAs

- Proper spacing between sections

Check:

- Are buttons large enough?

- Is the text readable?

- Does it feel cluttered?

Even if you don’t follow strict “mobile-first,” designing mobile early helps you avoid layout issues later.

3. Design the Desktop Layout

Once mobile structure is clear, expand to desktop.

On desktop:

- Introduce multi-column layouts

- Increase spacing

- Add visual balance

- Enhance hierarchy

Desktop should feel like an enhancement — not a completely different design.

Make sure:

- Alignment is consistent

- Sections scale proportionally

- Content doesn’t feel stretched

4. Design the Footer

Footers are often overlooked — but they matter.

Include:

- Navigation links

- Contact information

- Social links

- Legal pages

- Secondary CTAs

A well-structured footer improves usability and completes the design.

5. Create a Colour Palette System

Define:

- Primary brand colour

- Secondary/support colours

- Accent colour

- Neutral shades

- Background variations

Check:

- Accessibility contrast

- Button consistency

- Visual harmony across sections

A defined colour system prevents inconsistency.

6. Create Font Pairings & Text Styles

Define typography clearly:

- H1–H6 hierarchy

- Body text

- Small text

- Button text

- Quote or highlight styles

Good typography:

- Improves readability

- Builds hierarchy

- Makes the design feel intentional

Consistency is what separates amateur from professional work.

Why This Checklist Matters?

Web design is not just visual, it’s structural.

When you follow a system:

- You reduce revisions

- You increase client confidence

- You design faster

- You look more professional

Checklists aren’t for beginners. They’re for designers who care about precision.