How to Evaluate That Fancy New Website Design Without Losing Your Mind

It looks… cool? Or maybe it doesn’t? You’re not sure if the font choice screams modern elegance or high school science fair. Should the button be that big? Is this the right shade of “trustworthy blue”?

Relax. We got you.

Evaluating web design isn’t about knowing your Pantones from your pixels—it’s about understanding what makes a website work for your brand and your users. Here’s how to go from “I think I like it?” to confidently give a green light (or call a few creative timeouts).

The Main Criteria: What Are You Even Looking At?

Let’s start with the basics. Here are the big buckets you should be judging your shiny new website on—no design degree required.

a. Visual Design & Branding

• Does it look like you? (Not your competitor, not Apple, not a yoga studio unless you are a yoga studio.)
• Are brand colors, fonts, and logos used consistently?
• Is it visually appealing without looking like it’s trying too hard?

b. Usability & Navigation

• Can a visitor find what they need in under 3 clicks and without swearing?
• Is the navigation intuitive?
• Are important buttons (like “Buy Now,” “Contact,” or “Book a Demo”) easy to find?

c. Responsiveness

• Have you looked at the mobile version?
• Is everything readable, tappable, and not playing hide-and-seek?

d. Content & Messaging

• Is the tone of voice aligned with your brand? Friendly, professional, quirky, dark academia?
• Is it clear what your business does within the first few seconds of landing on the site?
• Are the headlines doing the heavy lifting?

e. Conversion Readiness

• Does the design guide the visitor toward an action?
• Are there obvious calls to action (CTAs) in all the right places?

The Process: How to Review Like a Pro (Or at Least Like a Sane Human)

Τake a breath and follow this process. Your agency will thank you, your team will thank you, your future self will high-five you.

Step 1: Do a Gut Check

• What’s your immediate reaction? (Trust it. Your users will have one too.)
• Does it feel exciting, boring, overwhelming, or confusing?

Step 2: Review Page by Page

Go through the homepage first, then work your way through key pages (About, Services, Contact, etc.). Don’t try to do everything at once.

Step 3: Ask These Questions

• Can I tell what this company does?
• What am I supposed to do next?
• If I were a first-time visitor, would I stay or bounce?
• Does this reflect our values and voice?
• Would I send this link to my mum and feel proud?

Step 4: Gather Internal Feedback (Without Creating Chaos)

• Assign a small team (2–4 people max) to review the design.
• Avoid mass email threads titled “Thoughts???” with 87 conflicting opinions.
• Consolidate feedback before sending it back to the agency. Bonus points if you group notes into “Must Fix,” “Nice to Have,” and “Just a Thought.”

Common Pain Points to Watch Out For (AKA the Ouch List)

Even the best designs can trip over some classic mistakes. Keep an eye out for these usual suspects:

1. Information Overload

• Are there walls of text that could double as bedtime stories?
• Is every square pixel trying to shout louder than the next?

2. Poor Contrast or Illegible Fonts

• If your eyes hurt after reading a headline, the design’s doing it wrong.
• Fancy fonts are great—until no one can read your address.

3. Missing CTAs

• If your user has to look for how to get in touch or sign up, you’ve already lost them.
• Every key page should have a clear goal and a clear action.

4. Mobile Mayhem

• Images cut off, text overlaps, or buttons are the size of dust mites? Not cool.

5. Inconsistent Branding

• Random fonts from three different decades? Pick a lane.
• Logo warping? Someone call the brand police.

What Happens Next: Turning Feedback into Forward Motion

Once you’ve done the review, what should you actually do?

Summarise Your Feedback Clearly

• Organise notes by page or topic.
• Keep it actionable. (“The hero image feels dated” is more helpful than “meh.”)

Communicate With Your Agency Like a Human

• Be honest but kind. (Remember: behind every pixel is a designer who hasn’t slept in 36 hours.)
• Ask for clarification if something confuses you—don’t assume.

Approve in Phases

• Don’t wait for everything to be perfect before signing off.
• If a page or section is done and you love it, lock it in and move on.

Plan for Testing

• Once it’s revised, test it again—especially user flows and mobile behavior.

Celebrate Like You Mean It

• Once the final design is approved, don’t just move on silently. A little virtual champagne goes a long way.

Final Thoughts: You Don’t Have to Be a Designer to Have Good Taste

Here’s the deal: you don’t need to know the difference between UI and UX or debate whether Helvetica is overused to give solid, smart, business-driven feedback on your web design. You just need to look at the site through the eyes of your ideal customer—and ask, “Does this help them fall in love with our brand?”

And if the answer isn’t a confident “HECK YES,” then it’s time to iterate.

Need help making sense of your new website’s design or figuring out how to give feedback without sounding like a picky toddler? We’ve been there. We are there. Give us a shout—no judgement, lots of coffee.