When you’re planning a new website or a major redesign, it can be tempting to jump straight into design and development. But before a single pixel is pushed or a line of code is written, there’s one step that can make or break the success of your project: discovery.
So, what is a discovery phase?
The discovery phase is a focused, strategic process that happens before the website build begins. It’s all about getting clarity—on your goals, your audience, your tech and content needs, and the best path forward. Think of it as building the blueprint before you start constructing the house.
What does discovery actually cover?
A well-run discovery process digs into things like:
- Your business goals and how we’ll measure success
- Who your users are and what they need
- What your competitors are doing (and how you can do it better)
- Legal, accessibility, and data protection requirements
- Existing content and assets: what stays, what goes, and what needs to be created
- Design direction, branding, and user experience planning
- Site structure, features, and functionality
- The right tech stack, CMS, and third-party integrations
- SEO and digital strategy for post-launch success
- Budget, timeline, and risk planning
In short, we map out exactly what needs to happen—before it happens.
Why it matters
The discovery phase helps us get really clear on your goals, map out the right tech and content needs, and plan a smooth path forward—so the actual project runs on time, on budget, and delivers exactly what you need.
But here’s the best part:
Even if you decide not to go ahead with the full project—or choose to work with another team—the discovery process gives you a clear, strategic roadmap you can take anywhere.
You walk away with documentation, insights, and a plan that saves time, money, and guesswork down the road.
Contact Matt to chat about a discovery session for your next project.
