Web designers are like marketers; there’s no shortage of them 😃 Many businesses believe that finding one is as easy as a quick Google search, and while that’s partly true, not all web designers are created equal.
What sets great designers apart is their alignment with your business strategy and vision. These web designers can design a visually compelling story and guide customers seamlessly through the decision-making process.
So what sets bad designers apart? Let’s explore the five red flags of bad ones blow:
1. Your Web Designer is Just a ‘Doer’
It’s great when a designer can follow instructions. If that’s all they do, then it’s a big long-term problem. You want a web designer who not only executes your vision but also challenges and elevates it.
A great web designer brings strategic thinking to the table. They should be well-versed in user experience (UX) best practices, design psychology, and usability principles to create a website that’s both visually appealing and functionally effective.
- Red Flag: Your designer does exactly what you ask without clarifying, suggesting improvements, or working through design choices.
- What to Look For: A designer who takes a strategic approach, offering insights and alternatives based on user behavior, design theory, and industry best practices.
2. Your Web Designer Repeats the Same Approach Every Time
A designer who relies on the same design templates, layouts, and styles for every project is stagnant. While consistency is great for branding, an unwillingness to adapt, experiment, and innovate can make a website and brand feel dated within a couple of years.
Think about how many businesses still have websites that look like they were built in the early 2000s: clunky navigation, tiny text, and non-responsive designs. If your designer isn’t learning modern, user-friendly interfaces, your website could be irrelevant before you know it.
- Red Flag: Your designer avoids risks, sticks to outdated methods, or isn’t keeping up with design trends and user expectations.
- What to Look For: A designer who balances tried-and-true strategies with fresh, innovative ideas tailored to your brand and audience.
3. Your Web Designer Doesn’t “Get” It
A great web designer should match your wavelength. They should understand your brand’s style, values, and goals without needing excessive back-and-forth. While it’s normal to provide feedback and guidance, your designer should take the lead in interpreting your vision and turning it into a well-crafted, high-performing design. If they seem lost, hesitant, or completely misaligned with your expectations, the collaboration will be frustrating and inefficient, and will likely end badly.
- Red Flag: You have to micromanage your designer, and they struggle to capture your brand’s essence.
- What to Look For: A designer who listens and can quickly pickup and represent your brand.
4. Your Web Designer Remains Silent When They Should Speak Up
If your designer isn’t offering feedback, sharing ideas, or questioning design choices, you may be making the wrong design choices. This lack of communication can result in missed opportunities for innovation and a website that doesn’t perform as well as it could.
Great web designers take a consultative approach, meaning they listen carefully but also proactively suggest improvements. They won’t just nod along, they’ll push back when needed, explain why certain design choices matter, and ensure the final product is the best it can be.
- Red Flag: Your designer doesn’t challenge ideas, offer suggestions, or contribute creative insights.
- What to Look For: A designer who collaborates, provides constructive feedback, and isn’t afraid to suggest better alternatives based on their expertise.
5. Your Web Designer Prevents Progress Instead of Enhancing It
Web designers are supposed to improve your website, not hold it back. Some designers unintentionally slow things down due to poor planning, outdated tools, or inefficient work.
Here’s what to look for:
| Using the wrong tools: | For example, designing a full website in Adobe Illustrator rather than a web-friendly tool, like Figma or Adobe XD, makes the design process unnecessarily complex. |
| Over-reliance on outdated methods: | They resist adapting to new technologies or workflows that could make everyone’s lives easier. |
| Lack of attention to detail: | If you’re constantly catching the same mistakes and repeating yourself to them, it’s a sign for change. |
| Not making your project a priority: | If your designer is consistently unresponsive, misses deadlines, or juggles too many projects, your website may not get the quality and attention that it deserves. |
- Red Flag: Your designer creates unnecessary delays, refuses to adopt better methods, or doesn’t prioritize your project.
- What to Look For: A designer who embraces efficient workflows, pays attention to detail, and prioritizes delivering high-quality work on time.
The Bottom Line: Don’t Settle for a Mediocre or Sub-Par Web Designer
Your website is one of your most valuable business assets. It should work for you and not against you. If your web designer shows any of the five red flags above, it’s time to rethink your designer. Again, a great web designer doesn’t just execute tasks; they are a strategic partner who should enhance your brand, optimize user experience, and drive meaningful website results.
Connect with Uplancer today to find a web designer who gets you and supports your business strategy. If you’re ready to replace your mediocre web designer, read about the correct way to do so here.
