Website design process in 7 stages
The website design process at AI Growth Systems has 7 stages with reviewable outputs. Its October 2026 proposal uses planning windows that depend on pages, source material and client review. A release date requires an accepted scope and schedule.
What does the website design process include?
The process connects discovery, search architecture, wireframes, design, content, development and launch in 7 stages. AI Growth Systems defines an output and approval for each stage. Weeks in this table are planning windows that may overlap; the accepted schedule names dependencies, client reviews and the proposed release date.
| Stage | Planning window | Output | Approval |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Discovery and audit | Week 1 | Goals, traffic and lead baseline, content inventory | Approve the scope and fact sources |
| 2. Search and AI architecture | Weeks 1 to 2 | Keyword owners, sitemap, URL and schema plan | Approve one page owner per intent |
| 3. UX and wireframes | Weeks 2 to 3 | Mobile home, service and contact layouts | Approve the user task and contact route |
| 4. Visual design | Weeks 3 to 4 | Type, colors, components and two page designs | Approve visual system and contrast review |
| 5. Content production | Weeks 3 to 6 | Approved copy, facts, photos and purchased translations | Approve sources and page scope |
| 6. Development and QA | Weeks 4 to 7 | Server pages, schema, forms and measured performance | Accept the agreed test record |
| 7. Launch and growth sprint | Week 8 onward | Redirects, search accounts, events and 30-prompt baseline | Approve launch and the separate 90-day work scope |
Which package fits my project?
Choose by the pages, languages and connections that must be delivered rather than a prestige label. Launch proposes up to 8 pages, Growth up to 25 and Authority 25 to 100+ with templates. Corporate adds divisions and roles; AI Growth Systems confirms counts, source material and exclusions in the written quote.
| Package | Proposed scope | Budget | Next scope |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch | Up to 8 pages; one language | $3,500 to $6,500 | Care plan |
| Growth | Up to 25 pages; service templates, tracking and chatbot | $9,000 to $18,000 | SEO and AI retainer |
| Authority | 25 to 100+ pages; programmatic templates, bilingual, integrations | $20,000 to $60,000 | SEO, AI and CRO scope |
| Corporate | Divisions, locations, approval roles, SSO and accessibility review | Custom proposal, planning from $30,000 | Enterprise scope |
What should we approve before development?
Approve structure, wireframes, components, copy and acceptance criteria before release. AI Growth Systems uses stage 2 to assign intent to each URL and stages 3 and 4 to review mobile layouts. Content needs sources and an owner; approval of a visual template does not mean that the copy is complete.
How are speed, accessibility and contact paths tested?
Tests use agreed URLs and tasks, with device and method recorded. Good Core Web Vitals thresholds are LCP at most 2.5 seconds, INP at most 200 milliseconds and CLS at most 0.1. A WCAG 2.2 AA review identifies scope and remaining issues; it is not an ADA legal compliance guarantee.
| Area | Record |
|---|---|
| Contact | Valid submission received at the agreed destination |
| Server | Canonical, robots, schema and sitemap checked |
| Language | Reciprocal links and form destinations tested |
| Performance | Lab and field data kept separate |
| Accessibility | Keyboard, focus, labels, errors and remaining issues |
How do launch and the 90-day sprint work?
Stage 7 checks redirects, search accounts and events before recording the initial baseline. AI Growth Systems proposes 30 AI prompts across 6 services and a separately scoped 90-day sprint. Monthly work, software fees and targets are accepted in writing; they are not a guarantee of traffic or generated citations.
What should we send to get started?
Share the domain, page list, languages and approval owners in 4 fields. Add brand assets and feature examples when they are approved. The $300 growth audit defines an initial review; any proposed credit toward a project within 60 days must be confirmed in the written commercial terms.
Official sources for the criteria
What else should you know?
Does the website design process always finish in 8 weeks?
No. Weeks are planning windows; missing source material, connections and reviews change the accepted schedule.
Is the audit automatically credited toward a project?
No. A $300 credit within 60 days is a proposed term that must be confirmed in the written offer.
How many stages have reviewable outputs?
7 stages have a defined output and approval. The accepted scope names the reviewer for each one.