How I managed to redesign dozens of websites and not go crazy (step-by-step guide included)

Hey Indie Hackers!

Website redesign as a challenge? No more for me 💪

Six years ago it seemed like a nightmare. Lots of tasks and even more different opinions on the Internet. How to start? When should I think of the redesign? How to structure my redesign tasks?

Today I want to share with you my answer to the last question.

🔬 Step 1: let’s begin with the researching stuff

Welcome the research - your best friend at the moment. Don't even try to do a redesign without some background. I’m being serious!

Here are your main steps at the moment:

1️⃣ Audit. Examine everything you have and find the main pain points. Think about how to solve the business problem with a design. If the client has the analytics - ask for it. Estimated timeline: 20h+

2️⃣ Research. Deep market and user research - is what you need right now. Estimated timeline: 20h+

3️⃣ User interviews. Find the audience and ask them all sorts of questions. Estimated timeline: 20h+

4️⃣ Mood boards. Brainstorm, be creative, and think out of the box! Estimated timeline: 20h+

🏷️ Step 2: structure your researching stuff

5️⃣ Informational structure. Put everything you have and organize content in an engaging for customers flow. Estimated timeline: 20h+

6️⃣ Wireframes. It is your website skeleton. Connect website info and see the content layout. Estimated timeline: 20h+

🎨 Step 3: let’s do some design stuff?

7️⃣ Design concept. It’s your very first design attempt, so don’t be afraid to make a raw draft. Here you ask for feedback and try to design the main pages. Estimated timeline: 20h+

8️⃣ UI work. Here you go - the main work has come! Do your best and don’t forget about the previous steps you've done. Estimated timeline: 100h+

📄 Step 4: documentation stuff is needed!

9️⃣ UI kit. Get all your documentation ready so you can use your new redesign elements in other materials. Estimated timeline: 10h+

Wow. That’s it?

Seems like that. You have upgraded your website to a new level! 🎉

Here you can find more about the website redesign timeline, background, and main mistakes.

Thanks for reading till the end! Subscribe to read more, know more, and design more. See you 😉