Updated September 2026. A website designer should turn business information into an interface people can understand and use. The job is broader than choosing colours: it includes structure, hierarchy, interaction, responsive behaviour and the path to a useful action.
Quick answer: hire a website designer who can explain why information is arranged the way it is and how the design will behave with real content on mobile and desktop.
Core website design deliverables
- Page and navigation structure
- Wireframes or content hierarchy for priority pages
- Responsive layouts
- Typography, spacing and visual system
- Reusable components such as cards, buttons and forms
- States for interactions and important form behaviour
- Design handoff or implementation guidance
Designer vs developer
A designer defines how the site communicates and behaves. A developer implements the site, content management and integrations. Some professionals do both; others specialise. Ensure neither responsibility is assumed without being written into scope.
Review real content, not perfect mock text
Ask the designer to use actual service titles, representative paragraphs and realistic forms. This exposes line wrapping, content density and hierarchy issues before development.
Responsive design should be visible in the deliverables
| Desktop decision | Mobile question |
|---|---|
| Multi-column section | What order should the content stack in? |
| Wide navigation | How will priority links appear in the mobile menu? |
| Large comparison table | How will the information remain readable on a narrow screen? |
| Complex form | Can it be completed comfortably with a phone keyboard? |
Ask how the design supports SEO
Good website design gives important content room to exist, preserves semantic headings, creates crawlable navigation and supports descriptive internal links. SEO-aware design is structural, not a request to place more keywords on screen.
See Vylino’s website design service for the design process and website development for implementation.
Hiring checklist
- Can explain the page hierarchy and user journey.
- Designs with real or representative content.
- Provides mobile layouts or responsive rules.
- Uses reusable components for consistency.
- Considers accessibility and readable interaction.
- Defines revision stages and approval responsibilities.
- Clarifies how design will move into development.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need Figma or another design tool before development?
Not for every project. A dedicated design phase is valuable when layout, branding or interaction needs careful review. Simpler projects can sometimes move directly into a controlled design system during development.
How many homepage concepts should a designer provide?
Quality is more important than arbitrary concept counts. A clear discovery process and one well-reasoned direction can be more productive than several superficial alternatives.
Can a website designer also write content?
Some can, but copywriting should be an explicit deliverable. Someone must remain responsible for factual accuracy and business approval.
