The redesign of a digital medium is never just a technical project: it's a mirror. It shows how a company works, where it hesitates, what it really values and what it neglects. That's why I love these moments: a redesign is an opportunity, a time for clear thinking, a time to review intentions, vision and processes. It's often an opportunity for a team to sincerely ask itself what it wants to say and to whom it wants to say it. Redesigning means asking: what do we keep, what do we simplify, what do we clarify? It means agreeing to sort, to choose, to give up what is no longer useful. And this sorting is much more than graphic design, is the real heart of a successful redesign.

So before you break everything and start from scratch, here's the checklist I use before any redesign project.

The checklist to read before any redesign project: 6 points to check before starting from scratch

1. What really doesn't work any more?

Not what we no longer like visually. Not what has aged. But what prevents people from understanding, taking action or moving forward on the site. A button that gets lost, a text that's too long, a form that's discouraging: these are all small details that end up wearing out users' patience. In short, anything that blocks the clarity or efficiency of the user journey should be the real priority.

2. Will users be listened to?

Without user feedback, we often repeat the same mistakes... only more beautiful. Observing and understanding usage must come before graphic design. A well-designed site is one that has been tested, observed and discussed. Even a few concrete feedbacks from users can reveal problems that no meeting had identified.

3. Is the technical team ready?

Good design is useless if no one knows how to maintain it or interconnect it. When redesigning a site, you need to think in terms of ease of maintenance and consistency between content and form. Otherwise, you create technical problems right from the start. Involving the technical teams early on in the project saves time, avoids nasty surprises and ensures that the new site remains solid over time.

4. Have we defined what “successful” redesign means?

A redesign without a clear objective is like a journey without a destination. Before you start, you need to know what you want to improve: loading time, message comprehension, conversion rate, brand image, or simply user satisfaction. When the goal is clear, every decision becomes easier to justify and more coherent in the long term.

5. Will the content be reviewed?

Changing the design without revising the words is like painting over damaged walls. Words are the user's first experience: they need to be simple, useful and real. Well-written text provides guidance, reassurance and the desire to move forward. If we keep the old content, we keep the old problems. A redesign is also an opportunity to review the tone, the hierarchy of messages and the way in which the company addresses its audiences.

6. Is the problem with the site... or the organisation?

Often, it's not the site that gets in the way, but the way decisions are made. A disorganised site often reflects a confused organisation. Inconsistencies visible online often reflect internal silos, unclear responsibilities or a lack of shared vision. Redesigning also means reviewing the way we work together, communicate and make decisions.

Before redesigning, you need to understand. Redesigning a website isn't just a digital project: it's about clarity and meaning. It's the moment when an organisation can choose to be more readable, more coherent and more aligned with its values. And sometimes, the real overhaul that needs to be done isn't the website: it's the vision, the way of expressing itself and the place that digital technology occupies at the heart of the company. Because a clear site is not just a successful site: it's the sign of a company that knows where it's going and why.