Introduction

Just like in the interior design industry, trends and styles in web design are in a constant state of flux. Often a website design that was fit for purpose at the time, for various reasons, can suddenly become 'so-last-year'. At some point all businesses have to accept the fact that no matter how good a website design was, a time will come when it'll need a visual makeover.

 Whilst somewhat obvious, a professional looking website is always critical in developing a positive brand perception for businesses. For many, though the act of website design is so intrinsically linked to the back end of the website itself, the effort required to transform the site and bring it up to date is often so expensive that it can result in having to make do with what you've got for much longer than necessary.

Put it this way - if you had to knock down your house and rebuild it from scratch every time you wanted to redecorate, you'd simply learn to live with that 70's style orange paisley wallpaper and brown shag pile carpet until it came back into fashion!

So how can a business keep the wheels of digital design in motion without paying for a complete overhaul each time? The answer is to select the right website software - a product that allows your design the breathing space it needs to evolve over time.

Website management software should always act as the glue that holds your online business together, and recognise that design is one of the key aspects of this business formula, sitting equally alongside other user touch-points such as eCommerce and email marketing.

The secret to good website design evolution lies in a true separation between technology and design. A website that is totally modular will allow for the expansion of new products and features as they emerge, and by using Cascading Style Sheets (CSS) to its fullest potential means that when the time comes for a website face lift, a total transformation can be achieved without any need for costly back end technical work.

So when looking at your next website design project, ask yourself this simple question: "how much control do I want to have over my design?" and remember that with the right tools you can redecorate whenever you want without having to 'get the builders in'. After all, a stunning website design combined with the right blend of functionality is an effective communication tool for your brand all by itself!