Working together on a website

The aim

The aim of this process is simple: to create a website that feels right the moment someone lands on it.

A site that’s easy to read, engaging to explore, and clear in what it’s saying — quickly. One that helps people understand who you are, what you do, and what you offer without effort or explanation. And one that leads, naturally, to the ultimate form of engagement: choosing to work with you.

Even in an age of AI, this still takes judgement. Choosing the right images. Writing the right words. Putting them in the right place so they work together — holding attention, building confidence, and helping people stay.

Yes, your website should look good. Ideally, it should look beautiful. But more than that, it should feel like you — visually reflecting your organisation, your values, and your offer.

So when the right person arrives, the reaction is simple:

“Ah. This is what I want.”

Roles, responsibilities and how we’ll work together

A successful website isn’t just about design or technology.

It’s the result of clear responsibilities, fast decisions, and a shared understanding of how the process works.

This page sets out:

  • What we’ll do

  • What we’ll need from you

  • What to expect at each stage

Get this right, and the website becomes the easy part.

Content ownership and responsibility

When we supply copy, imagery or other content, we do so on the assumption that it will be reviewed and approved by you. Final responsibility for accuracy, factual, legal or otherwise, always sits with the client. Once work is signed off, responsibility for its correctness transfers in full. That said, we take care at every stage to ensure copy is clear, accurate and appropriate, and we will always flag inconsistencies or concerns where we see them. Approval, however, confirms acceptance.

Roles, responsibilities and how we’ll work together

A successful website isn’t just about design or technology.

It’s the result of clear responsibilities, fast decisions, and a shared understanding of how the process works.

This page sets out:

  • What we’ll do

  • What we’ll need from you

  • What to expect at each stage

Get this right, and the website becomes the easy part.

Content ownership and responsibility

When we supply copy, imagery or other content, we do so on the assumption that it will be reviewed and approved by you. Final responsibility for accuracy, factual, legal or otherwise, always sits with the client. Once work is signed off, responsibility for its correctness transfers in full. That said, we take care at every stage to ensure copy is clear, accurate and appropriate, and we will always flag inconsistencies or concerns where we see them. Approval, however, confirms acceptance.

Your responsibilities

1. Responsiveness and decision-making

Momentum matters.

We’ll need:

  • Timely responses to questions and reviews

  • Clear feedback within agreed timeframes

  • One nominated decision-maker

Long delays don’t just pause progress, they increase cost and complexity.

2. Content ownership and accuracy

You are responsible for:

  • Supplying factual information

  • Confirming accuracy

  • Approving all final copy

There are several ways copy can be handled:

  • You supply copy directly

  • Copy is drafted collaboratively using ChatGPT

  • Final copy is translated and approved by you (for example, into German)

We’ll guide structure, tone and hierarchy, but final approval always sits with you.

3. Access and assets

To keep things moving, you’ll need to provide access to:

  • Domain / URL

  • Hosting platform

  • CMS or existing website

  • Logos, documents and existing brand assets

Delays here will pause the project.

Our responsibilities

1. Strategic and creative direction

We lead the process.

That includes:

  • Defining structure and priorities

  • Clarifying user journeys

  • Establishing tone, intent and creative direction

  • Acting as Creative Director across all outputs

    Our role is to translate your goals into a clear, coherent website.

2. Imagery and content commissioning

This is normally our responsibility.

We will:

  • Define what imagery needs to evoke, not just what it shows

  • Brief photographers, writers or other specialists where needed

  • Ensure imagery supports the design, message and brand

  • Select and curate final imagery for the site

There is a close, symbiotic relationship between designer and photographer.

Design experience is essential in knowing:

  • What needs to be photographed

  • How it will be used

  • Which images will work best in a digital context

Imagery is not decoration. It’s part of the design system.

3. Client-supplied imagery (optional)

If you prefer to supply imagery yourselves:

  • We’ll advise on suitability and gaps

  • Imagery must be high quality and legally usable

  • Final selection and placement will be guided by us

This ensures visual consistency and avoids compromise.

4. Process leadership

We will:

  • Define the stages and deliverables

  • Keep the project moving

  • Flag risks, gaps or blockers early

  • Ensure expectations remain clear throughout

The stages we’ll go through

Stage 1: Wireframes:
Purpose: structure before style

You provide

  • Content inputs

  • Clarifications

  • Early feedback on structure

We provide

  • Page structure

  • Content hierarchy

  • Clear outlines of what goes where, and why.

This stage defines the skeleton of the site.

Stage 2: Design concepts
Purpose: direction, not detail

You provide

  • Directional feedback

  • Confirmation of tone and feel

  • Decisions. not redesigns

We provide

  • Visual design concepts

  • Typography, colour and layout

  • Responsive intent

This stage sets the creative direction.

Stage 3: Design development
Purpose: refine and resolve

You provide

  • Final approvals

  • Content sign-off

We provide

  • Fully developed designs

  • Desktop and mobile views

  • Final layouts ready for build

Stage 4: Build
Purpose: execution without drama

You provide

  • Final content

  • Image assets

  • Confirmed access

We provide

  • Website build aligned exactly to the approved designs

  • Performance-conscious implementation

  • Testing and refinement

The build should be the least surprising stage.

Sign-off and change control

Clear sign-off points

  • Wireframes

  • Design

  • Final site

Once a stage is signed off, changes may affect time and cost.

Changing direction

Iteration is expected early.

Late changes have consequences.

This isn’t punitive, it’s how projects stay fair, predictable and sustainable.

Tools and working methods

Design

  • All design is created and approved in Adobe XD

  • The website build follows the approved XD designs directly

Copy

  • ChatGPT may be used to accelerate drafting

  • All copy is reviewed, approved and owned by you

Delivery and ownership

Before launch:

  • Everything is reviewed

  • Content is approved

  • Performance is checked

One important detail:

The designer or consultant owns the work until full payment is made.

Once paid, ownership transfers as agreed.

This is standard professional practice.

What success looks like

  • Clear structure

  • Confident presentation

  • Imagery used with intent

  • Easy to manage and evolve

Final note

This only works if we treat it as a shared responsibility.

We’ll guide the process.

You’ll provide clarity, decisions and input.

Do this, and building the website becomes straightforward, calm and effective.

Let’s connect →