How I Learned Website Design & Development the Hard Way
My First Website Was a Disaster — and My Biggest Lesson
It all started in a tiny room with a laptop that barely worked and a head full of ambition.
I had just decided to launch my freelance business, and I knew I needed a website. I was excited, motivated, and totally clueless. I thought, “How hard could it be?”
Well, turns out… it was very hard.
I ended up with a clunky, slow, and awkward-looking site that didn’t even open properly on mobile. But it was mine. And it taught me everything I now know about website design and development.
The Difference Between Design and Development (I Wish I Knew Earlier)
In the beginning, I thought design and development were the same thing.
Website Design
This is how your site looks and feels. It’s about layout, color, fonts, and user experience. It’s the first impression your visitors get.
Website Development
This is how your site functions behind the scenes. It includes coding, database management, loading speed, and making sure every button works the way it should.
Knowing the difference helped me approach projects better and communicate clearly with clients (and developers!).
My Website Redesign Journey
After the disaster of my first attempt, I decided to start again — but this time with a strategy.
Step 1: Planning
I listed out everything I needed my site to do:
Introduce my services
Allow people to contact me
Showcase past projects
Step 2: Choosing the Right Platform
I moved from a free website builder to WordPress. It was a game changer. More flexibility, more control.
Step 3: Learning the Basics
I taught myself HTML and CSS using free tutorials. I didn’t become a full-time coder, but just enough to tweak things when needed.
Step 4: Mobile Responsiveness
This was my biggest mistake earlier. In the redesign, I used responsive themes and tested every page on phone and tablet.
What I Learned About Users and Design
Here’s the truth I learned:
People don’t care how fancy your site is — they care how easy it is to use.
If your menu is confusing or your text is hard to read, they’ll leave — even if your design is beautiful.
I focused on:
Clear navigation
Fast load time
Clean layout with enough white space
Real photos and authentic content
What About You?
Website design and development isn’t just about building something that works. It’s about building something that connects.
If I could go back, I would focus less on making it perfect and more on making it clear and useful.
So, tell me — what’s the biggest challenge you’ve faced in building or improving your website?
Let’s talk about it — maybe I’ve already struggled through it too.