A hand sketching a website wireframe with a yellow pen on white paper

Why it matters

A website that is hard to use costs a business enquiries it never knew it could have had. Good UX and UI design removes the obstacles.

User experience (UX) design is concerned with structure and behaviour: how information is organised, how people move through it and what happens when they act. User interface (UI) design is concerned with how that experience looks and feels — the typography, layout, colour and components on each screen.

The two work best together. We start with requirements and structure, test ideas in simple wireframes, and only then design the finished interface. This keeps decisions grounded in what users and the business need, rather than in visual preference alone.

From requirements to finished design

The stages below are adjusted to the project. A small website may combine several of them.

StageWhat happensTypical output

User and business requirementsWe establish who uses the website or service, what they are trying to do, and what the business needs from it — enquiries, bookings, information, sales.Requirements summary

Information architectureContent is organised into a structure that matches how visitors think about the subject, with clear labels and a sensible hierarchy.Site map and content outline

User flows and navigationThe key journeys — finding a service, comparing options, getting in touch — are mapped step by step, and the navigation is designed to support them.User flow diagrams

WireframesPage layouts are worked out without visual styling, so that structure, content priority and interaction can be agreed before detailed design.Annotated wireframes

Interface designThe agreed structure is given its visual form, applying the brand identity to typography, colour, components and imagery.Interface designs and components

Responsive behaviourLayouts are designed for phones, tablets and desktop screens, rather than adapted as an afterthought.Designs at key screen sizes

Usability review and refinementDesigns are reviewed against the original requirements and, where possible, checked with real users, then refined before and after build.Review notes and revised designs

Built in from the start

Accessibility: Sufficient colour contrast, readable type, keyboard access and meaningful structure are considered throughout, not added at the end.
Content first: Designs are built around real or realistic content, so that layouts work with the text and images the business will actually publish.
Practical to build and maintain: Designs are specified clearly for developers and use reusable components, so that the result can be built faithfully and updated without starting again.

Contact

Discuss a website or digital service.

Whether you are planning something new or improving what you already have, tell us who uses it and where it falls short.

Call Coast Media Team Limited

+44 7700 184273 coastmediateamlimited@gmail.com Send an enquiry