Our Web Design Process: Discovery to Launch
Verlua's web design process runs across four phases — Discovery, Design, Build & Test, and Launch & Grow — to turn business goals into high-performing websites. Every phase has defined deliverables, a clear timeline, and a feedback loop so nothing ships without your sign-off.
The full cycle typically runs 7 to 11 weeks. Below is exactly what happens at each stage and what you receive along the way.
Step 1
Discovery
1 - 2 weeks
Every project starts by understanding the business, not the pixels. We run stakeholder interviews with your team, audit your existing site and content, analyze two to three direct competitors, and facilitate a goals workshop to align on measurable outcomes like leads, sales, or sign-ups.
The discovery phase prevents the most expensive mistake in web design: building something that looks good but does not serve the business. By the end of the first two weeks, everyone — designers, developers, and your team — is working from the same playbook.
What you get
- Strategy brief covering audience, positioning, and key performance goals
- Full sitemap with page hierarchy and URL structure
- Content plan mapping keywords, topics, and CTAs to each page
- Competitor analysis summary with gaps and opportunities
Step 2
Design
2 - 3 weeks
With the strategy locked, we move into wireframes and visual design. Every layout starts mobile-first because most of your traffic will come from phones. We design key pages — homepage, service pages, contact — as interactive Figma prototypes you can click through, not static screenshots.
Brand alignment is central to this phase. We match your existing brand identity or refine it with a style guide covering typography, color, imagery, and component patterns. Two rounds of revisions are built into the timeline so the designs reflect your vision before a single line of code is written.
What you get
- Interactive Figma prototypes for desktop, tablet, and mobile
- Style guide with typography, color palette, and component library
- Approved final designs signed off by your team
Step 3
Build & Test
3 - 4 weeks
Development happens on a private staging site you can review at any time. We build with Next.js and React — modern frameworks that produce fast, accessible, and SEO-friendly sites out of the box. Technical SEO is implemented during development, not patched on afterward: semantic HTML, structured data, optimized images, proper heading hierarchy, and Core Web Vitals tuning.
Before handoff, every page goes through cross-browser testing (Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge), device testing on real phones and tablets, and a full web development QA pass covering forms, links, load speed, and accessibility.
What you get
- Fully functional staging site for your review
- QA report covering cross-browser, device, and accessibility checks
- Pre-launch SEO audit with technical and on-page findings
- Performance benchmark report (Lighthouse, Core Web Vitals)
Step 4
Launch & Grow
Ongoing
Launch day is planned, not rushed. We handle DNS, SSL, redirects, analytics setup (Google Analytics 4, Search Console), and post-launch smoke testing so nothing breaks during the transition. Every project includes 30 days of post-launch support for bug fixes and content tweaks.
Beyond the first month, we offer ongoing optimization retainers. That means monthly performance monitoring, content updates, A/B testing, and reporting — because a website that stays static eventually falls behind. We track what is working, cut what is not, and keep improving.
What you get
- Live production site deployed to your domain
- Training documentation for content management
- Analytics dashboard with traffic, conversion, and performance tracking
- 30 days of post-launch support included
Why This Process Works
Most web projects go sideways for the same reason: unclear scope. The team starts designing before they understand the business, the client sees the site for the first time at launch, and everyone ends up in revision loops that blow the budget. Our four-phase structure eliminates that by front-loading alignment and building in checkpoints throughout.
Each phase produces tangible deliverables you review and approve before the next phase begins. That means no surprises. If something needs to change, it changes early — when adjustments are cheap — not late when code has already been written.
SEO and performance are not afterthoughts. They are woven into every phase: keyword research in discovery, URL structure in design, technical implementation during the build, and tracking after launch. The result is a site that is ready to rank the day it goes live, not six months later.
Finally, the process does not end at launch. Websites are living assets. We stick around to monitor, optimize, and iterate — because consistent improvement is what separates sites that generate leads from sites that collect dust. See our portfolio for examples of this process in action.
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does a website project take?+
Most projects take 7 to 11 weeks from kickoff to launch. Discovery runs 1-2 weeks, design takes 2-3 weeks, development and testing take 3-4 weeks, and launch prep takes about a week. Complex sites with custom integrations or large content libraries may take longer — we scope that during discovery.
What's included in the discovery phase?+
Discovery includes stakeholder interviews, competitor analysis, a content audit of your existing site (if applicable), and a goals workshop. You walk away with a strategy brief, a full sitemap, and a content plan — all before any design work begins.
Can I see the design before you build it?+
Yes. During the design phase, you receive interactive Figma prototypes showing exactly how your site will look and feel on desktop, tablet, and mobile. We do not write a single line of production code until you approve the designs.
Do you handle SEO during the build?+
SEO is built into every phase, not bolted on at the end. We research keywords during discovery, structure URLs and headings during design, implement technical SEO (schema markup, meta tags, Core Web Vitals optimization) during development, and verify everything with a pre-launch SEO audit.
What happens after launch?+
Every project includes 30 days of post-launch support for bug fixes and minor adjustments. Beyond that, we offer ongoing optimization retainers that include performance monitoring, content updates, A/B testing, and monthly reporting. Your site keeps improving after it goes live.
Ready to Start?
Tell us about your project and we will walk you through how our process applies to your goals. No pitch decks, no pressure — just a straightforward conversation about what your business needs.
Book a Free Strategy Call