5–10 days
Discovery and workflow research
We interview users per role, map current workflows as Jobs to be Done and agree the success metrics.
Web app design services
Web app design services for complex products that stay simple
Information architecture, workflows, and interfaces for web applications that need to handle complexity without feeling complex.
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In shortWeb app design services plan the information architecture (IA), workflows and user interface (UI) of logged-in web applications, for example admin consoles, customer portals and software as a service (SaaS) products. Our web app design takes 8–16 weeks, costs $60,000–$180,000, and ends with a component library and developer-ready Figma files.
Definition
What is web app design?
Web app design is the user experience (UX) and UI design of software that runs in a browser after sign-in, for example a customer relationship management (CRM) tool or an admin console. Designers structure navigation, workflows, data tables and permissions for repeated daily use.
Web application design differs from UI UX web design in purpose: a marketing website converts visitors, while a web app supports users who complete the same tasks every day. Web app UI therefore prioritizes speed, keyboard access and clear system states over storytelling.
- Timeline
- 8–16 weeks
- Investment
- $60,000–$180,000
- Deliverables
- 6 included
What's included
What does web app design include?
Our web app design services include 6 deliverables: workflow research, an information architecture, wireframes, a clickable prototype, a web app UI kit and a design handoff package.
Workflow research
Interviews and task analysis with 5–8 users per role, for example admins, managers and operators.
Information architecture
A navigation model and sitemap validated with tree testing in Optimal Workshop, for example 10–15 tasks per test.
Wireframes
Low-fidelity screens for every workflow, for example list views, detail views, forms and settings.
Clickable prototype
A Figma prototype tested with 5 users per round in Maze, for example a 5-task test of the core workflow.
Web app UI kit
Components for complex screens, for example data tables, filters, bulk actions, empty states and permission states.
Design handoff package
Annotated Figma files, responsive breakpoints and component specs mapped to Storybook, for example 3 breakpoints at 1280, 1440 and 1920 px.
Process
How does the web app design process work?
The web app design process takes 8–16 weeks (40–80 working days) and runs in 6 steps, from discovery to design handoff.
5–10 days
Information architecture
Designers build the navigation model and validate the navigation model with card sorting and tree testing.
10–20 days
Wireframes and prototype
Designers wireframe every workflow and build a clickable Figma prototype of the core tasks.
5–10 days
Usability testing
Each round tests 5 users on the core tasks and scores the prototype with the System Usability Scale (SUS).
10–20 days
Visual UI and component library
Designers apply the brand, build the web app UI kit and check every screen against Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.2 level AA.
5–10 days
Design handoff
We hand over Figma files and component specs, then review the first builds with developers.
Benefits
What are the benefits of web app design?
Web app design has 4 benefits: it increases feature adoption, improves task efficiency, reduces training time and develops a scalable component library.
Increases feature adoption
Clear navigation and discoverable actions increase the share of users who use each new feature.
Improves task efficiency
Keyboard shortcuts, bulk actions and saved filters improve the speed of repeated daily tasks.
Reduces training time
Consistent patterns across screens reduce the hours new users spend learning the web app.
Develops a scalable component library
Each release adds tested components to one library, so the web app UI develops without one-off screens.
Comparison
Web app design vs UI UX web design
Web app design structures logged-in workflows for repeated use; UI UX web design shapes marketing websites that convert visitors. Products with a public site and a signed-in app need both services.
| Criterion | Web app design | UI UX web design |
|---|---|---|
| Users | Signed-in users who return daily | Visitors who arrive from search and ads |
| Core screens | Tables, forms, dashboards and settings | Landing pages, service pages and blog posts |
| Success metric | Task success rate and time on task | Conversion rate and Core Web Vitals |
| Timeline | 8–16 weeks | 4–8 weeks |
| Price on this site | $60,000–$180,000 | $25,000–$60,000 |
Related:UI UX web designSaaS UX design
Pricing
How much does web app design cost?
Web app design costs $60,000–$180,000 and takes 8–16 weeks. The price depends on 4 factors: the number of workflows, the number of user roles, the number of test rounds and the size of the component library.
A web app with 5–6 workflows and 2 user roles sits near $60,000. A web app with 20 or more workflows, 5 user roles, 3 test rounds and a full component library sits near $180,000. Teams that build a new product from zero compare scope with digital product design services. Sending a request for proposal to several agencies? A web app design RFP built on a role and workflow inventory makes every bidder price the same scope.
Typical investment$60,000–$180,0008–16 weeks
- Workflow research
- Information architecture
- Wireframes
- Clickable prototype
When to hire
When should a software company hire web app design services?
A software company should hire web app design services in 5 situations:
- A new web application is planned, if the team has engineers and no product designer.
- Support tickets rise, if users cannot find core features.
- New features ship every sprint, if each feature adds a one-off screen.
- Enterprise buyers ask for roles and permissions, if the current UI has a single user type.
- An accessibility requirement applies, for example a WCAG 2.2 AA clause in a procurement contract.
Not sure where your design problems actually start?
Book a 45-minute UX audit session. We review your product and identify the top three friction points.
Book a UX auditWeb app design services by industry
We design UI and UX for SaaS, Finance, EdTech, Media, AI and Enterprise products.
Web app design services case studies
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Send us your project. A design lead reviews it and schedules a call within one business day. We sign an NDA before the first technical discussion if you prefer.
FAQ
Web app design FAQs
These answers cover the 5 questions buyers ask most about web app design services.
Still have a question?
A design lead answers every message within one business day.
Talk to a design leadIs web app design different from website design?
Yes. Web app design supports signed-in users who repeat tasks daily, while website design converts visitors on marketing pages.
Do you design data tables and permissions?
Yes. Web app design covers data tables, filters, bulk actions, user roles and permission states for every workflow in scope.
Does web app design include responsive layouts?
Yes. Web app design includes responsive layouts for 3 desktop breakpoints and mobile layouts for the tasks users complete on a phone.
Can you redesign an existing web app in phases?
Yes. A phased web app redesign starts with the highest-traffic workflow and ships one workflow per release.
How long does web app design take?
Web app design takes 8–16 weeks, which equals 40–80 working days, from discovery to design handoff.
