Image for a moment (if you haven’t already experienced this) – you’re ready for a big new step in your business, so you hire a professional designer or developer to work on your website.
You sign the contract, put down a deposit, and are feeling pretty excited. And then you wait patiently to see your new website.
And you wait…
… and wait
Six months later, you still have no website. Sure, you’ve reviewed proofs, and submitted changes a few times. But it’s just not finished. You just don’t understand what the hold up is, but your business is stuck in limbo, waiting for that new site… And you’re starting to feel like you’ve wasted so much time and money.
Unfortunately, this is an all-to-familiar story. And even worse, as a graphic designer, I used to participate in this nightmare – until I did something radical…
But hang on…. I’m getting ahead of myself…
Let’s start at the beginning, and then I’ll circle back to tell you about radical change I made last year.
Back to the 90's...
As a graphic designer who originally trained back in the 90’s (go ahead and call me “vintage”🫣)… I remember when websites were clunky, HTML-heavy beasts, Amazon was a radical online bookstore … and social media didn’t even exist.
Through those 20+ years, I’ve worked with numerous women solopreneurs. And, because these clients don’t have bottomless corporate budgets to support their marketing efforts (nor endless time), I’ve learned how important it is to create maximum value for these small businesses.
Once upon a time… business cards and – gasp! – printed brochures were the critical design assets every small business needed. I designed a lot of those. (And since I’m kind of a nerd, I also learned how to do pretty much any other design assignemnt that came my way over the years… including a a milk bottle… and few vehicle wraps!)
But the current business landscape is wildly different! Many of the coaches, therapists, consultants, and creatives I work with now offer at least some of their 1:1 services remotely. Their our audience may be national or even global. And even local buyers search for services online, and vet service providers at least partially via their website and social media presence.
Today, the most important brand asset for a small service business is a website and thoughtful, deeply-aligned brand assets that unify all the business’s digital touchpoints.
So, to provide the best value and impact for business owners, I have narrowed my focus to creating brands and WordPress websites that are both beautiful and functional – and will grow with my client as she evolves.
But if you purchased design services – or talked to people who have – you may have heard or experienced some horror stories.
Web design is particularly fraught because it spans technology, design, branding, and messaging (more on that in a future post.) And I sure didn’t want to be one of those web designers that everyone complains about! … which led me to create something better.
Truth? The traditional design process is broken.
Many clients come to me frustrated, saying things like, “I’ve worked with a web designer before, but six months later, I was still waiting for my site to launch,” or “They didn’t really understand my vision.”
This is completely ridiculous. And honestly, it doesn’t have to be that way.
The traditional design process is a big part of the problem. Here’s how it usually goes:
- You find a designer, discuss your project, sign contracts, and pay a deposit.
- You wait—days, weeks, maybe even months—for the first round of proofs.
- When the proofs finally land in your inbox, you’re juggling a million other things. You don’t have time to review them properly, so they sit unopened.
- When you do reply, there’s a string of back-and-forth emails, revisions, and vague timelines that stretch the process out even more.
It’s a mess. Deadlines slip. Your excitement fizzles. And instead of feeling empowered, you’re stuck waiting, and waiting … and waiting — unable to launch your website, update your brand, or move your business forward.
And for us designers? It’s just as frustrating. We are usually juggling too many tasks at once, emails pile up, and sometimes we spend days working on a design, only to discover that it didn’t quite land with the client. At the end of the day, it feels like no one is getting the best out of the collaboration.
This isn’t anyone’s fault—it’s the system. But it’s just not good enough in today’s fast-paced, entrepreneurial world.
What if the whole design process could be faster, more collaborative, and more fun?
That’s why I decided to do something radical – focus 100% of my attention on one client at a time.
Over the years, I noticed that the most productive, energizing moments in any project happened when I was working directly with my clients—sharing ideas, getting real-time feedback, and making decisions together.
Those moments had momentum. They were creative, exciting, and effective.
Why not build an entire process around that energy?
So, I started cutting out the inefficiencies: the waiting, the endless emails, the scattered focus, and the conflicting deadlines. I reimagined the process from the ground up, keeping the best and ditching the rest.
Enter: the DesignDay—a streamlined, day-long design sprint that gets my client results quickly … without sacrificing quality.
But DesignDays aren’t just about getting things done quickly—they’re about creating a better, more enjoyable design experience for everyone involved:
Traditionally, a designer spends a lot of time on a concept (usually over several weeks), getting it as close to perfect as possible – then sends a proof to the client for feedback. Honestly, this moment can be super nerve-wracking for both parties: the client is longing to see something they like, and the designer is holding her breath hoping the client likes her work. Much time (and passion) has already been invested, which is hugely disappointing for everyone if the results aren’t what the client wanted. And then there’s all the waiting for new proofs. This process is usually repeated several times before a project can be signed off on.
During a DesignDay, we collaborate in real time – working together in a direct feedback loop. For example, if when choosing a typeface, I’ll share screenshots of my top picks and ask for my client’s thoughts. We can test them out in a logo or on a website header and make decisions on the spot. This keeps the momentum going and prevents me from wasting time going in the wrong direction. Beyond the energetic advantnages, this in-the-moment collaboration ensures that the final result feels just right… and that we never waste much time going in the wrong direction!
With the traditional process, projects stretch over weeks and months because the designer is juggling several projects and deadlines at the same time. And of course they all pile up at the same time (thanks for that annoying law, Murphy 
).
DesignDays are efficient. I hyperfocus on my client’s project during our designated day (I’m actually someone who works best and fastest under a bit of time pressure), delivering tangible results on a predictable date. And while I power through the design work, my client can work on other important tasks in her business. (Some of my clients have appreciated this day as a chance to catch up on overdue admin projects.) The best part? My clients get to watch their designs come to life in real-time.
In the the traditional model, the designer usually quotes a comprehensive project fee. But experience has taught us to factor in everything that might happen, including several rounds of elaborate changes and extra padding to account for the unexpected. This leads to bloated package pricing and a rigid predetermined list of what is and isn’t included.
✔️DesignDays offer a flexible, modular solution. Together, we agree on priorities for a given day based on my clients’ business goals and what they are prepared to invest. But if priorities shift while we’re working, we can pivot as needed. For example, I worked with one client who discovered mid-project that she wasn’t as clear about her target audience as she thought, so we devoted her day to exploring that brand foundation – which was one of the most important things she needed in her business; she walked away feeling really supported – and with much more clarity around her client and offer. And of course, if desired, my client can always add an additional day for extra deliverables or revisions; but for clients who make decisions quickly, DesignDays can actually offer cost savings on top of the time saved!
Plus: I empower my clients to update their own websites. The website process doesn’t end with launching. So I also reserve some time after the design day for minor tweaks and a personalized training session to familiarize my client with tools like Elementor and walk her through making content updates on the new website.
Raving reviews from clients…
The feedback about DesignDays clients has been incredible. Clients applauded the collaborative process, the excitement of seeing checklists completed in record time, and the the thrill of witness designs coming to life before their eyes.
Shannon said:
“Wow, I just saw what you did with that page I started! It feels like Christmas morning. I never would have thought to organize it like that.”
Sam and Patrick appreciated the collaborative process:
“My favorite part of the process was seeing the checklist get completed and collaborating to problem solve. Angelica was a real pleasure to work with: amazing attitude and knowledgebase.”
“I enjoyed the back-and-forth communication. Angelica heard my ideas, had great ideas of her own, brought enthusiasm to the project, and took feedback constructively.”
Eva and Christine both commented on the fast-action process:
“The DesignDays process was fast and got the job done in a very clear way. I love how much cleaner our website looks. It is way more aligned with what we actually do, with our business model and plan.”
“I’d highly recommend DesignDays to any highly-motivated business owner who is able to make decisions quickly. She works fast!”
And Maggie made me blush 
with her enthusiasm for the finished project:
“You made my website look so fierce—I never have to worry about how my art is showcased again.”
So… I guess I’m not the only one who like this new streamlined process for creating stunning brands and websites that help small business takes their next leap forward!
(Nothing make me happier than a happy client 
)
The future of design for solopreneurs…
The traditional design agency model was evolved for corporations or larger organizations with lots of stake holder and decision makers.
But solopreneurs need – and deserve – a more nimble relationship-based approach, the kind of high-touch, 1:1 service that they offer to their own clients.
As you’ve learned, with DesignDays I’m able to offer an efficient, customizable design process based on collaboration that avoids the endless timelines and disconnect that are typical with the more traditional approach.
My work has always been about more than beautiful design— it’s about helping you take your business to the next level. If you’re tired of the DIY struggle or the endless back-and-forth… and you’re ready for a collaboration that will actually help you make your business vision real – this might be the perfect fit.
Let’s make ✨magic✨ happen—together.
Let’s chat about that shiny new website you envision!
(No pushy sales tactics here
eeewww….)