It is difficult to overestimate how important is a website’s design. According to Google research, users only need 0.05 seconds to evaluate the appearance of the resource. And if they are satisfied, they will stay on the site. This is why website design should be given special attention.
How much does design development cost? The amount can range from $1,000 to $100,000 or more. Read this article to find out what affects website design’s cost and how it is created.
Points That Impact Website Design Cost
If you are wondering how much does it cost to build a website, the first thing to be aware of is the standard formula: cost = hours worked * hourly wage. This rule applies to all development cycles.
When it comes to design, spent time is affected by factors such as the work’s complexity and adaptation to different resolutions. In addition, the hourly rate depends on the pace in the region chosen for cooperation and the technical partner (freelance or outsourcing). Let’s look at these factors in more detail:
Complexity
It’s no secret that creating a simple landing page will take less time and effort than a full-fledged website with many pages. However, it is also essential to determine what visual elements the pages are filled with – for example, complex illustrations or animations require much more time.
Also, professional designers provide several prototypes to choose from. Finally, a full-fledged project is created based on the client’s choice. In general, the complexity of the pages is divided into three categories:
- Simple (few elements, static) – takes 2 to 4 hours
- Medium (integrated maps, authorization) – 4-8 hours to design
- Complex (many elements, animations) – 8-12 hours per page
Design responsiveness
Today, about 60% of traffic comes from mobile devices. Regarding this, your site must be adapted to them as well. A good design should consider different screen resolutions, from mobile phones and tablets to the desktop version, and look good everywhere.
A responsive design that independently adjusts to the user’s screen eliminates the need to create separate mobile versions. Responsiveness takes about 40% of the total web design time. For example, it takes approximately 165-170 hours to develop a site like Netflix ($8250-$8500 at an hourly rate of $50) and 45-50 hours to make it responsive ($2250-$2500). The total cost of such a website’s design will be $10,500-$11,000.
Technical partner
To complete the design, you can choose different specialists, and this choice will affect the cost:
Ready template. If we are talking about a simple landing page, it will be easier for you to create it using a website builder. However, this approach is not suitable for serious businesses.
Freelancer. You can turn to a freelance web designer to reduce investments. However, in this case, you will need to provide detailed terms of reference, which will indicate all your wishes and details of the project. This choice may be suitable for simple websites but not for more considerable outcomes.
Outsourcing provider. This option is more expensive than the previous two. However, if you want to get a high-quality result, outsourcing web app development services will be the best solution. You will receive an entire team of experienced UI/UX designers and business analyst consultations upon request. Another advantage is signing the contract, which will give you confidence in the partner’s reliability.
Hour rates
The territorial location of your vendor influences this factor very profoundly. For example, prices in Central and Eastern Europe will be lower due to lower taxes and acceptable conditions for IT companies. Therefore, the services of a UI/UX designer will cost less than, for example, in the USA. For clarity, let’s compare the hourly rate in some of the most popular regions for outsourcing:
- USA – $80-$160
- Latin America – $40-$50
- Eastern Europe – $35-$55
- Asia – $25-$40
Components of Design Costs
Each company has its approach to creating UI/UX design. However, common steps make up the cost of its development.
1. Discovery phase. After the first contact, you and your team will discuss all the project’s requirements, making a complete list of all the design features. Next, experts provide an estimated time and cost for the task.
At the same stage, designers draw up the document with the technical specifications of the future website and create wireframes and first clickable prototypes. Then, when all the details are approved, you can move on.
2. Design concept. At this stage, the designers will provide you with several design concepts based on the approved wireframes. They may vary in style, colors, and other details. If your business already has a brand style guide, this stage will proceed faster, reducing costs. However, experienced designers can determine the ideal option for your company if you need to create it.
3. Visual design. The longest stage is when mockups are created page by page from all wireframes according to the chosen concept. Every action is carefully thought out and worked out. Also, along with the completed project, you can be provided with a style guide, which will indicate all the project details. When you approve the design, it will be passed to the developers for further work.
4. Additional services. The initial estimate will also include it if you need special assistance. For example, if you need site localization for some Arabic country, designers will help bring this idea to life.
Wrapping Up
Website design is one of its most crucial components. Therefore, it is essential to pay great attention to it. Although the cost of creating a website design can vary greatly depending on many factors, the main thing to focus on is the high quality of the finished product. Working with an experienced software vendor who will provide you with a team of qualified UI/UX designers, you will be able to create the perfect website. Quality design allows your business to flourish and increase the flow of customers and your profits.