My Web Design Services

As a freelance web designer, I provide a range of website design services that focus on clarity, usability, and long-term performance. The approach is straightforward — to identify what your business needs, avoid unnecessary complexity, and design websites that are built to work in practice, not just look good.

The Web Design Process

A clear process makes a big difference to how smoothly a web design project runs for both of us.

As an experienced web designer, I follow a structured but flexible approach that’s transparent and focused on results. You’ll always know what stage we’re at in the process, what’s needed from you, and what comes next.

All page templates

# of Page Templates

Although web designers tend to approach page creation in terms of content blocks, there are some pages that require a specific design due to their unique purpose. For example, the home page is often the main landing page for many users and so needs to be highly engaging. Also, the contact page is often unique due to its inclusion of a map, form, social links and other specific elements. Larger websites with more functionality requirements are likely to require a higher number of unique page templates.

brochure website design showing content blocks icon

# of Content Blocks

As mentioned, many web pages are now created from a series of blocks, each designed to hold specific types of content. These blocks would be designed and presented in the form of full web pages, presenting each block in context, ideally with real content. This approach builds flexibility into website creation. Larger websites with more complex content requirements are likely to require a higher number of unique content blocks.

more design concepts equals more time equals more cost

# of Design Concepts

Years of experience have shown that, with an accurate brief, no more than 3 unique web design concepts need to be presented for client consideration. If the brief (and budget) are tight and full brand guidelines are available, it may be that only 2 options are needed, although this is often proven too restrictive. If required, additional design concepts can be quoted for and should be discussed before the project starts.

more rounds of changes equals more time equals higher cost

Rounds of changes

Once the initial design concepts have been presented, the idea is to choose one designs for further exploration. Tweaking the design where necessary in terms of colour scheme, font sizes, navigation, style of imagery, etc. This should be achievable within 2 rounds of changes before the final design is cemented.

Let’s create a beautiful new website.

Just fill out the form here with your details and an outline of your requirements, but feel free to get detailed if you wish. I’ll then get in touch to clarify a few details before putting together an initial propsal.

Address: By appointment only
Email(s): gmwc@gregmac.co.uk
Phone(s): Supplied after initial enquiry by form or email
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Web design FAQ

I hope the info above helps clarify the way I like to work, how I quote, and the service that I offer. But if you still have questions, I have listed some common FAQs below that may further assist you. If you need additional clarification, please feel free to contact me using the form above, and I’ll be happy to help.

Do you have any certifications or formal training in web design, development, or related fields?
I graduated from Southampton Institute (now Solent University) with a BA in graphic design, which covered both print and new media disciplines. My first job was working in direct mail, but I quickly moved to another studio that produced CD-roms, focussing on user interface design. Later on a joined a brand design agency, helping them offer web design services to clients across a wide range of industries. In recent years, I used my considerable branding and project management skills to help re-launch a web agency, and have also worked in-house for businesses looking to improve their online presence.
How long have you been designing websites professionally?
I began designing websites in 2020, initially using Macromedia Flash, before transitioning to HTML, and then finally working in tandem with dedicated development agencies such as Devstars/LWDA. My hands-on experience with Flash, HTML and platforms such as WordPress, Shopify and Optimizely mean that I offer web design services that are informed by a real-world technical background.
What industries or types of businesses have you worked with?
Over the years, I’ve worked with organisations across a wide range of industries, from local businesses and professional service providers to retailers, charities, technology companies and larger organisations.

While every sector has its own challenges and requirements, the fundamentals of effective web design remain the same. A successful website needs to communicate clearly, provide a positive user experience and support the goals of both the business and its customers. My role is to understand what makes your organisation unique and translate that into a website that reflects your brand and objectives.

In many cases, experience across multiple industries can be an advantage. It allows me to bring fresh ideas, proven approaches and insights from different sectors while avoiding assumptions based on industry norms.

Whether you’re an established business, a growing company or a new startup, I take the time to understand your audience, competitive landscape and goals to ensure the website is tailored to your specific requirements.
Do you work independently, or do you collaborate with other professionals (e.g., developers, SEO experts, copywriters)?
I primarily work independently and personally manage every web design project from start to finish. This allows me to maintain a high level of quality, consistency and attention to detail while ensuring clients benefit directly from my experience and expertise throughout the process.

That said, some projects benefit from specialist skills beyond the scope of web design. When required, I can collaborate with a trusted network of experienced professionals, including web developers, copywriters, photographers and other digital experts. This allows me to assemble the right team for your specific needs while maintaining a single point of contact for you.

For clients, this approach offers the best of both worlds. You receive the personal service, flexibility and strategic guidance of working directly with an experienced independent consultant, while also having access to additional expertise when needed.

Whether a project is delivered entirely by me or involves carefully selected collaborators, my role remains the same: to oversee the process, ensure everything works together effectively and deliver a professional website that supports your business goals and provides a great experience for your customers.
How do you ensure a website aligns with a client’s brand and business goals?
Your website should be a reflection of your brand, not just visually but also in the way it communicates with customers. I take time to understand your brand identity, values, messaging and positioning, ensuring these elements are consistently represented throughout the website. This includes everything from colour palettes and typography to page layouts, imagery and tone of voice.

Equally important is ensuring the website supports your commercial objectives. Whether your goal is to generate more enquiries, increase online sales, attract local customers or strengthen brand credibility, the user experience, site structure and calls to action are designed to support those outcomes.

By combining strategic planning, user experience expertise and professional web design services, I create a website that not only looks like your brand but also works hard to help your business achieve its goals.
Do you create custom designs, or do you use templates?
I primarily create custom website designs tailored to each client’s business, audience and objectives. Every business is different, so I believe your website should reflect your brand, communicate your unique value and support your specific goals rather than relying on a generic, one-size-fits-all approach.

The design process typically starts with understanding your business, customers and requirements before developing a website structure and user experience that supports the outcomes you’re looking to achieve. This allows me to create a website that is aligned with your brand identity, easy to use and focused on generating results.

In some cases, it may be appropriate to build upon a high-quality framework or theme, particularly where it offers efficiencies without compromising quality. However, even when using an established foundation, the website is carefully customised to ensure it feels unique to your business and meets your functional and design requirements.

My focus is always on delivering the right solution for the project. Whether that involves a fully bespoke website design or a tailored implementation built on an existing framework, the end result is a professional, user-focused website that supports your brand, SEO performance and business objectives.
How do you design websites that encourage enquiries and sales?
Effective web design is about much more than creating an attractive website. Every design decision should support a clear business objective, whether that’s generating enquiries, increasing bookings, selling products or encouraging visitors to get in touch.

My approach combines user experience principles, strategic thinking and an understanding of how people interact with websites. This includes creating intuitive navigation, clear messaging, compelling calls to action and logical user journeys that guide visitors towards taking the next step. By reducing friction and making important information easy to find, visitors are more likely to engage with your business.

Rather than designing purely for visual impact, I focus on creating websites that balance aesthetics with performance. The result is a professional website that not only represents your brand effectively but also helps turn website visitors into genuine business opportunities.
How do you make sure my website stands out from competitors?
The best way to stand out online isn’t simply through bold visuals or design trends—it’s by creating a website that clearly communicates what makes your business different and why customers should choose you.

At the start of a project, I take time to understand your business, target audience and competitive landscape. This helps identify opportunities to differentiate your brand and highlight your unique strengths. From there, I can develop a website that reflects your personality, values and expertise while providing a better user experience than many competing websites.

Standing out often comes from a combination of factors, including clear messaging, strong branding, intuitive navigation, thoughtful design and a focus on the needs of your customers. Rather than copying what competitors are doing, I aim to create a website that is authentic to your business and aligned with your goals.

The result is a professional website that not only looks distinctive but also builds trust, improves engagement and helps position your business more effectively within your market.
How much input will I have in the design process?
Some clients arrive with a clear vision for their website, while others prefer to rely on my experience and recommendations. Most projects sit somewhere in between, combining your knowledge of the business with my expertise in web design, user experience and digital strategy.

From the outset, I’ll work closely with you to understand your goals, target audience, brand and preferences. You’ll have opportunities to provide feedback at key stages of the project, including the website structure, design concepts, page layouts and content presentation. This collaborative approach helps ensure the website reflects your business while benefiting from proven design and usability principles.

While your input is always welcome and encouraged, part of my role is to provide professional guidance and explain the reasoning behind key recommendations. Drawing on many years of experience, I can help identify what is most likely to improve usability, support SEO performance and encourage conversions.

The goal is to create a partnership where your ideas and business knowledge are combined with strategic web design expertise, resulting in a website that both looks right and performs effectively.
How do you handle feedback and revisions during the design process?
Feedback and collaboration are an important part of every web design project. My process is designed to encourage constructive feedback at key stages, ensuring the design develops in line with your goals, brand and expectations while avoiding unnecessary delays or costly changes later in the project.

Rather than presenting a finished website and hoping for the best, I involve clients throughout the design process. This typically includes reviewing website structures, wireframes, design concepts and key page layouts before development progresses too far. Gathering feedback at the right time helps ensure important decisions are validated early and keeps the project moving efficiently.

I encourage honest, open feedback and will always explain the reasoning behind design recommendations where appropriate. With many years of experience in web design, user experience and conversion optimisation, I can help distinguish between personal preferences and changes that are likely to improve website performance.

The result is a collaborative process that balances your knowledge of the business with my expertise in creating effective, user-focused websites.
Will my website be mobile-friendly and responsive?
Absolutely. Every website I create is designed to be fully responsive, meaning it adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes and devices, including smartphones, tablets, laptops, and desktop computers.

Mobile-friendly web design is no longer optional. With a significant proportion of web traffic now coming from mobile devices, it’s essential that your website provides a fast, intuitive and enjoyable user experience regardless of how visitors access it. A responsive website not only improves usability but can also support your SEO efforts, as search engines favour mobile-friendly websites in their rankings.

Before launch, your website is thoroughly tested across a range of screen sizes and browsers to ensure everything works as expected and provides a professional experience for every visitor.
How do you handle website accessibility for users with disabilities?
My goal is to create websites that are easy to use for as many people as possible, including those with visual, hearing, motor or cognitive impairments.

During the web design process, I follow recognised accessibility best practices wherever practical, such as ensuring good colour contrast, clear typography, logical page structures, keyboard-friendly navigation, descriptive link text and compatibility with screen readers. I also pay close attention to user experience, helping visitors find information and complete tasks without unnecessary barriers.

While the level of accessibility required will vary depending on your organisation, audience and regulatory obligations, I can advise on the most appropriate approach and help ensure your website is designed with inclusivity in mind from the outset.

An accessible website can lead to better engagement, stronger customer trust and a wider potential audience.
Can you redesign my existing website, or do you only design new ones?
Yes, I can redesign an existing website or create a completely new one from scratch. In fact, many of the businesses I work with already have a website but feel it’s no longer delivering the results they need.

A website redesign can range from refreshing the visual appearance and improving the user experience to a complete overhaul of the site’s structure, content and functionality. Before recommending any changes, we should discuss your existing website to understand what’s working, what’s holding it back and where opportunities exist to improve performance. This strategic approach helps ensure decisions are based on business goals rather than aesthetics alone.

Common reasons for redesigning a website include outdated design, poor mobile usability, slow loading times, low search engine visibility, declining conversion rates or difficulty managing content. Whether your site is built on WordPress, Shopify, Optimizely or another platform, I can advise on the most effective route forward.
Can you help improve the user experience of my current website?
Yes. In some cases, a complete website redesign isn’t necessary. If your website already has a solid foundation, targeted improvements to the user experience can often make a significant difference to how visitors interact with your site.

I can review your existing website to identify areas that may be causing frustration, confusion or missed opportunities. This could include navigation issues, unclear calls to action, poor mobile usability, inconsistent layouts or barriers that make it difficult for visitors to find information and take action.

The goal is to create a smoother, more intuitive experience that helps users achieve their objectives while supporting your business goals. Even relatively small changes can improve engagement, increase enquiries and make your website more effective overall.

Whether you need a few targeted improvements or a broader review of your website’s performance, I can help identify opportunities to enhance the experience for your visitors.
Do you charge hourly, per project, or on a retainer basis?
I find that project-based pricing works particularly well for web design services because it allows us to focus on achieving the right outcome rather than tracking hours. Every website is different, so costs are based on factors such as the size of the site, the complexity of the functionality, content requirements, integrations and overall project objectives.

Before providing a proposal, I’ll take the time to understand your business, goals and requirements. This enables me to provide an accurate quotation that reflects the work involved and helps avoid unexpected costs later in the process.

For businesses that require ongoing support after launch, such as website maintenance, updates, SEO improvements or digital consultancy, ongoing arrangements can also be discussed.
How long does it typically take to design a website?
The timeframe for designing and building a website depends on the size, complexity and specific requirements of the project. As a general guide, a smaller website can often be completed within a few weeks, while larger or more complex websites may take several months.

Factors that influence the timeline include the number of pages, design requirements, content availability, functionality, integrations and the speed at which feedback and approvals are provided. Projects tend to progress most efficiently when content, imagery and key decisions are supplied promptly.

I’ll provide a realistic timeline based on the agreed scope of work and keep you informed throughout the process. My focus is always on delivering a high-quality design rather than rushing to meet an arbitrary deadline.
Do you require an upfront deposit?
Yes. This is usually 30% of the total cost of the project, with another 30% being paid when the general design direction is agreed, and the remaining 40% when all of the page templates and content blocks have been signed-off. Once the final payment has been received, all files will be supplied to you to pass onto your development team.
What information do you need from me before a project can begin?
To get a project started, I typically need a clear understanding of your business, your goals and the audience you’re trying to reach. Don’t worry if you don’t have everything fully defined yet—that’s something I can help with during the discovery process.

Useful information includes details about your products or services, your target customers, any existing branding, examples of websites you like, and what you would like your new website to achieve. If you already have an existing website, it can also be helpful to understand what is working well and what you would like to improve.

The more context you can provide, the better. However, my role is to guide you through the process and ask the right questions to uncover important requirements. Whether you arrive with a detailed brief or simply an idea of what you’d like to achieve, I’ll help translate your objectives into a website strategy and design that supports your business goals.
What if I’m not sure what I need yet?
That’s perfectly normal. Many clients know they need a better website but aren’t entirely sure what features, content or functionality will best support their goals. Helping you answer those questions is an important part of the service I provide.

The process begins with a conversation about your business, your customers and what you would like your website to achieve. From there, I can help identify priorities, recommend appropriate solutions and advise on the most effective approach based on your budget and objectives.

With many years of experience delivering web design services for a wide range of organisations, I’m able to provide practical guidance and strategic recommendations rather than simply taking instructions. This often helps clients avoid unnecessary complexity and focus their investment where it will have the greatest impact.

You don’t need to arrive with a detailed specification or technical knowledge. My role is to guide you through the process and help shape a website that is aligned with your business goals and designed to deliver meaningful results.
Can you help if I don’t have a logo or brand guidelines?
Yes. While having an established brand can be helpful, it’s not a requirement. Many businesses approach me before they’ve fully developed their visual identity, particularly startups, new ventures and small businesses looking to establish a stronger online presence.

If you already have a logo and brand guidelines, I can ensure your website reflects them consistently. If not, I can help you define the foundations of your visual identity, including colours, typography, imagery and overall design direction. The aim is to create a professional and cohesive online presence that reflects your business and appeals to your target audience.

A strong website is about more than aesthetics alone. It’s about communicating trust, credibility and professionalism while supporting your business objectives. By taking a strategic approach to branding and web design, I can help ensure your website creates the right impression from the moment visitors arrive.
What happens if I need extra features or changes after the project starts?
It’s quite common for new ideas, requirements or opportunities to emerge once a website project is underway. If you need additional features, functionality or design changes after the project has started, these can usually be accommodated through a clearly managed change process.

At the beginning of the project, we’ll agree on a scope of work that outlines exactly what is included. This helps keep the project on track and ensures expectations are clear from the outset. If additional requirements arise beyond the agreed scope, I’ll assess the impact on the timeline and budget before any extra work is undertaken.

You’ll always be informed of any additional costs or delivery implications in advance, allowing you to decide whether you’d like to proceed, postpone the change or explore alternative solutions.

My aim is to remain flexible while maintaining transparency, ensuring your website evolves in the right direction without unexpected surprises or unnecessary costs.
Who owns the website design once it’s completed?
Once the project has been completed and all agreed-upon payments have been made, ownership of the website design transfers to you. You’ll have full ownership over the finished product and the ability to manage its future design & development changes as you see fit.

I believe in building long-term relationships based on trust rather than lock-in. While many clients choose to continue working with me for ongoing support, maintenance and digital consultancy, you are never tied to my services and remain in control of your website and digital assets.
Do you have any recommendations for my project before we start?
Yes. Before any design or development work begins, I always recommend taking the time to clearly define what success looks like for your website. The most effective websites are built around business objectives, whether that’s generating enquiries, increasing sales, promoting services or improving brand credibility.

It’s also helpful to think about your target audience, key messages and the actions you want visitors to take when they arrive on your site. Having a clear understanding of your customers’ needs allows us to create a website that delivers a better user experience and supports higher conversion rates.

If you’re replacing an existing website, I recommend reviewing what’s working well and identifying any areas that could be improved. Existing analytics, search engine performance and customer feedback can provide valuable insights that will inform design and content decisions.

Finally, gathering content, branding assets and examples of websites you like before the project starts can help streamline the process and keep everything moving efficiently. My role is not only to provide web design services, but also to offer strategic guidance that helps ensure your investment delivers long-term value for your business.
What common mistakes do businesses make with their websites, and how can we avoid them?
One of the most common mistakes businesses make is focusing too heavily on how a website looks while overlooking how it performs. A visually impressive website is important, but it also needs to be easy to navigate, fast to load, mobile-friendly and designed to guide visitors towards taking action.

Another frequent issue is a lack of a clear strategy. Many websites are built without a clear understanding of the target audience, business objectives or user journey. This can result in confusing navigation, weak messaging and missed opportunities to generate enquiries or sales.

The best way to avoid these mistakes is to take a strategic approach from the outset. By combining thoughtful website design, strong user experience principles, SEO best practices and a clear understanding of your goals, it’s possible to create a website that not only looks professional but also delivers measurable business results.