Just finished reading “Design is a Job” by Mike Monteiro. There is so much more to designing a site besides making it look “pretty”. Good design looks “pretty”. Great design solves problems.
What problem(s) will be solved by your new website design?
What specific business goals will the redesign help you achieve?
This book covers the importance of these items when approaching a website design project. The book also covers discovering the right clients, budgets, contracts, and presenting your work.
I highly recommend this book: http://www.abookapart.com/products/design-is-a-job