Partnering with a BigCommerce website designer can be exciting, but to make the most of this collaboration, it helps to have a clear game plan. Effective communication and a bit of preparation can make a huge difference in the design process—and in the final outcome.
Here’s a roadmap from your trusted BigCommerce digital marketing agency for collaborating with your chosen designer to ensure your vision comes to life smoothly, efficiently, and in a way that drives results.
1. Clarify Your Brand and Vision
Before starting a project, take time to clarify your brand’s identity, goals, and audience. This means defining your brand’s tone, style, color palette, and even your core values. The more your BigCommerce website designer understands your business identity, the better they can coordinate the design with your brand’s personality.
Let’s say you run an online store for artisan jewelry. If your brand is all about elegance and sophistication, make sure your designer understands that the aesthetic should lean towards a clean, minimalist look with elegant fonts and refined colors.
Clear direction upfront will save time and prevent miscommunication later.
2. Set Clear Goals for the Project
Your BigCommerce website designer will be better equipped to help if they know exactly what you’re hoping to achieve. Are you looking to increase conversions, simplify navigation, or highlight new product categories? You should identify these goals to guide the designer’s decisions.
Pro Tip: Instead of vague goals like “make it look better,” try setting specific goals such as “improve mobile experience,” “optimize the checkout process for faster conversions,” or “highlight seasonal collections.”
When both you and the designer are on the same page about goals, the design will more effectively serve your business needs.
3. Gather Inspiration and Share Examples
You don’t have to know everything about design, but collecting examples of what you like (or don’t like) can be extremely helpful for your designer. If you have favorite websites, share them! Pointing out things like layout, color schemes, or the type of imagery you prefer will give your BigCommerce website designer a solid starting point.
Be sure to also let them know what doesn’t resonate with your brand. It’s equally helpful to share what doesn’t fit so the designer can avoid styles or elements that wouldn’t work for your audience.
4. Be Open to Expert Input
A BigCommerce website designer has expertise and experience that can help elevate your project, so be open to their input and ideas. Designers often have valuable insights about best practices and effective layouts that you may not have considered.
Remember that while your vision is important, a designer’s job is to take that vision and make it user-friendly, visually appealing, and functional. Trusting their expertise can lead to surprising, effective solutions that enhance the website’s performance.
Example: If you’re set on a certain color palette but the designer suggests a variation for better contrast, it’s worth hearing them out. Their recommendations often come from experience in creating designs that not only look good but perform well in real-world use.
5. Provide Constructive Feedback
Feedback is one of the most critical parts of the collaboration process. When giving feedback, aim to be specific and constructive. Instead of saying, “I don’t like this section,” try explaining why—like “This section feels too cluttered; can we make it more streamlined?”
Good feedback is direct but leaves room for the designer to apply their expertise. Comments like “The font here doesn’t seem to match our brand tone” are more helpful than general criticisms. Constructive feedback keeps the process smooth, ensuring the final product aligns with your expectations.
6. Establish a Communication Plan
Effective collaboration depends on clear, consistent communication. Early on, discuss and agree on how often you’ll check in, whether it’s weekly meetings, email updates, or quick status calls. A set communication plan keeps everyone on track, reduces misunderstandings, and allows for timely adjustments.
Establishing a primary contact person on your team can also streamline the communication flow. This way, your BigCommerce website designer knows exactly who to reach out to for questions or clarifications, making the project progress efficiently.
7. Trust the Process
Design projects can sometimes feel like they take unexpected turns. Trusting the process and allowing time for revisions and tweaks will ultimately give your designer the room to deliver their best work. Give feedback and stay involved, but remember that a collaborative approach—and a little patience—will help create a design that truly works for your business.
Working Together with Your BigCommerce Website Designer
Collaborating with a BigCommerce website designer is a unique opportunity to blend your brand’s vision with expert design. Set clear goals, communicate effectively, and stay open to input, and you’ll help create a BigCommerce site that not only looks amazing but also works hard to grow your business.
Ready to build a BigCommerce site that’s uniquely yours? Schedule a consultation with us today!
