Planning a New Web Design? What to Know Before You Redesign

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Good web design is more than aesthetics. In 2025, your website is the core of your company’s digital identity and the first step to building trust and driving conversions. A modern site that combines design, performance, mobile optimization and SEO can be the difference between growth and stagnation.

In this guide we’ll cover why you should consider a redesign, how to plan it properly, and which steps are critical for success – including a practical checklist and advice from Mementor.

Plan your new web design with Mementor

We help you with everything from analysis and strategy to a finished website. Our mix of modern design, SEO, and usability means you get measurable results.

Online competition has never been tougher. A modern website that combines strong design with fast performance, mobile-friendliness, and SEO can make the difference between growth and stagnation. That’s why a well-executed redesign is an investment in your company’s future.

What you’ll learn in this article: Why a new web design can be critical, how to plan your redesign properly, which common pitfalls to avoid, and how choosing the right partner – such as Mementor – can give you a competitive edge. At the end you’ll also get a practical 10-point checklist before launch.

Quick answer: When planning a new web design, define clear goals, understand your audience, create a clear structure with strong CTAs, ensure mobile-friendliness and fast performance (Core Web Vitals), and consider SEO and accessibility from day one. Test thoroughly in staging, plan redirects, and arrange ongoing maintenance.

Modern web design illustration
Modern web design strengthens digital identity and conversion

Why Consider a New Web Design?

Many companies run websites that are 4–5 years old or more. Even if the content is solid, the technology is often outdated. Industry data shows that many businesses refresh their websites every 3–5 years – because design trends, security requirements, and user behavior evolve quickly.

  • Outdated design creates a poor first impression
  • Lack of mobile optimization turns users away (the majority of traffic is mobile)
  • Low conversion rates – visitors don’t find what they need or don’t trust the site
  • Higher security risks from old CMS solutions

Define Your Goals and Audience

A redesign without clear goals rarely succeeds. Decide what you want your website to achieve:

  • Generate more qualified leads and inquiries
  • Increase e-commerce sales with a smoother checkout
  • Build a stronger, more trustworthy brand
  • Simplify customer journeys and reduce support needs

Just as important is understanding your audience. Use personas, Google Analytics, and surveys. What problems are visitors trying to solve? What makes them leave? This insight drives structure, content, and design.

Analyze Your Current Website

Before starting from scratch, analyze your existing website. Tools like Google Analytics and Hotjar reveal which pages perform well, where visitors drop off, and what delivers real value.

Common pitfalls include overly long forms, messy navigation, weak internal linking, and slow load times. Many redesigns fail because they don’t build on lessons learned from the old site.

Structure and User Experience

A clear structure is the foundation of good web design. Start with a sitemap and wireframes before you decide on colors and fonts. Clear menus, short paths to conversion, and prominent CTA buttons drive results.

Read more in From Idea to Website.

Design, Branding and Modern Expression

Your web design should reflect your brand. Consistency in colors, typography, and imagery builds recognition. In 2025, trends include:

  • Larger typography and more white space
  • Dark mode and bold contrast colors
  • Micro-animations that add life without distracting
  • High-quality visuals and video content that build trust

The key is balance: your site should be beautiful, but above all usable. Choose design elements that support the message – not those that steal attention away from key actions.

Technology, Performance and Accessibility

Speed and mobile-friendliness are non-negotiable. Google Core Web Vitals measure how quickly pages load, how stable they are, and how responsive they feel. Poor scores can lower your search rankings.

Accessibility (WCAG) is also a legal requirement in many countries, including Norway. Beyond compliance, good accessibility improves the user experience for everyone and often boosts conversions.

Use modern techniques like AVIF/WebP image compression, lazy loading, efficient caching, and minimal heavy scripts. Track metrics like LCP, INP, and CLS, and fix bottlenecks quickly.

Costs and Budgeting

What does a new web design cost? It depends. A simple template-based site may cost around €5,000, while custom solutions for larger companies can run from €20,000 to €50,000 or more.

SolutionTypical PriceProsCons
Template-based€5k–€8kAffordable, quick startNot unique, limited flexibility
Custom€20k–€50k+Full control, unique design, better performanceRequires larger budget

Choosing the Right Agency or Partner

Choosing the right partner is one of the most important decisions in a redesign. Look for agencies with proven experience, strong references, and a clear process for research, design, development, and launch. Avoid anyone promising “quick fixes” without understanding your target audience first.

Mementor is a Norwegian web design and digital marketing agency with extensive experience in design, SEO, and digital strategy. We know a website must be both beautiful and effective – combining modern design with technical performance and usability for measurable results.

👉 Request a free quote from Mementor and see how we can help plan and deliver your next redesign.

Testing, Launch and Maintenance

Your new site should be tested across devices and browsers. Use a staging environment, test forms, speed, error handling, and accessibility. Don’t forget 301 redirects from old URLs to avoid SEO losses.

After launch, the work doesn’t stop. Your site needs maintenance, updates, and monitoring. Having a maintenance agreementensures that experts keep your solution secure and optimized. Set clear KPIs and track improvements over time.

Checklist: 10 Things to Remember Before a Redesign

  1. Define clear goals
  2. Know your audience
  3. Analyze your current site
  4. Create sitemap and wireframes
  5. Design mobile-first
  6. Optimize speed and Core Web Vitals
  7. Plan SEO from the start
  8. Choose the right partner (e.g. Mementor)
  9. Budget realistically
  10. Plan testing and maintenance

Conclusion

A new web design isn’t just a facelift – it’s an investment in your company’s growth and visibility. With proper planning, the right partners, and a focus on both users and search engines, you’ll get a solution that delivers value for years to come.

Mementor is here to guide you from idea to launch. Get in touch today for a no-obligation consultation on how we can elevate your digital identity.

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