By Tanya Ganian · · 3 min readA qualified web designer can show live websites that work well on phones, explain a clear process from planning to launch, understand why structure, speed, accessibility and mobile usability matter for SEO, and communicate professionally with written agreements and transparent pricing. Certificates and years of experience matter less than demonstrated results.
Look at their actual work
Short answer: the best proof is a website that works. Ask for links to sites they've built, then visit them yourself, on your phone:
- Are they easy to navigate?
- Are they readable on mobile?
- Is it clear what each business offers?
- Do they load quickly?
A beautiful portfolio image doesn't tell you whether the finished site works well.
Ask about their process
A qualified designer should be able to explain, simply:
- How they plan a website and its pages
- How they learn your business goals and customers
- How they approach mobile design
- How revisions work
- What they test before launch
- What happens after the site goes live
Do they understand basic SEO?
Not every designer is an SEO specialist, but they should understand why page structure, speed, accessibility and mobile usability matter. Ask how they handle page titles, headings, image sizes and redirects when replacing an old site. See can bad web design hurt your Google rankings?
Check their professionalism
- Clear communication and reasonable response times
- Realistic timelines (see how long website design takes)
- A written agreement with what's included and excluded
- Transparent pricing
- References, when appropriate
Red flags
- No live examples, only mock-ups
- Vague answers about who owns the site
- Guaranteed Google rankings
- No contract or a price that changes without explanation
The bottom line
Qualifications aren't only certificates or years of experience. They're demonstrated ability, a clear process and reliable communication. Choose someone who can explain how their work will support your business.
See our case studies and web design process, or use our list of questions to ask a web designer.
Frequently asked questions
What qualifications should a web designer have?
Formal credentials matter less than a portfolio of live, working websites, a clear process, understanding of mobile design, accessibility and SEO basics, and professional communication.
How do I check a web designer's work?
Visit the live websites they've built on your phone, check speed and navigation, and search Google for those businesses to see whether they show up.
Should a web designer know SEO?
They should understand the basics: structure, titles, headings, speed, mobile usability and redirects. For ongoing SEO, a specialist is often better.