Demystifying our web design process

Most agencies will tell you they “build beautiful websites”. Fewer will show you the process behind the pixels.

At Rubber Duckers, we believe the best websites don’t start with design. They start with questions. Clear goals. A collaborative plan. That’s what sets us apart – and it’s why we’ve documented our entire approach right here.

Here’s a peek behind the curtain, so you know exactly what happens when you work with us.

Step one: discovery

This is where it all begins. We sit down with you (virtually or in person) to get under the skin of your business. What do you do? Who’s it for? What should your website actually achieve?

We’ll talk about audience pain points, competitors, content, tech needs, and more. The goal isn’t just to take a brief – it’s to help you refine it.

Often, clients come to us thinking they need a website. What they really need is clarity. That’s what discovery gives you.

Step two: the docs

Once we’ve got a clear picture, we create a bespoke project plan. You’ll get structured docs laying out the sitemap, user journeys, functionality, and project milestones. No guesswork. No fluff.

Everything is mapped out before design begins – so you know what’s coming and we stay aligned throughout.

You can see more on this in our Docs section – from project plans to handover processes, we’ve made our workflow open on purpose.

Step three: design

Now comes the fun bit. We’ll wireframe key pages to test structure and hierarchy first – then we add your brand, colour, typography, and character.

Design is done collaboratively with you. You'll see concepts, feedback rounds, and progress as it happens – not just a grand reveal at the end.

Because this isn’t about impressing you with fancy layouts. It’s about solving problems, meeting goals, and making your brand shine.

Step four: development

With design approved, we move into build. We’ll create a fully responsive, SEO-friendly site – usually in WordPress – built from scratch, no off-the-shelf themes.

Performance, accessibility and future flexibility are baked in from the start. So whether you're running a blog or booking system, your site runs clean and lean.

During this phase, you’ll get access to a staging site so you can explore and feedback as it comes to life.

Step five: launch and aftercare

Once everything’s tested and approved, we go live. Seamless, stress-free, and secure. We’ll handle redirects, SSL, and final optimisations so everything runs smoothly.

But we don’t disappear after launch. We offer optional website maintenance plans to keep your site updated, backed up and protected.

And if you want ongoing tweaks, new features or extra pages later down the line, we’re here for that too.

Why the process matters

It’s tempting to jump straight to design. But skipping the groundwork is how sites end up pretty but ineffective.

Your website is a business tool. To build one that works, you need strategy. Structure. A plan. That’s what our process delivers – and why we don’t treat it as a formality.

The real magic doesn’t happen at the mockup stage. It happens at discovery. That’s where we uncover what’s really going to make your site work harder.

Think it’s time to upgrade your process?

You don’t need more guesswork or generic fluff. You need a site that’s rooted in strategy and built to last.

Our web design process brings clarity, momentum and results and it starts with one simple conversation.