Top 10 Web Design Agencies — Best for July 2024
Listing the best web design agencies worldwide. Find the right website design firm to deliver your web project in San Francisco, New York, Tokyo, Los Angeles, or London.
Updated: July 2, 2024
Web design agencies offer a tremendous service to companies looking to rebrand or launch their online presence. By working with businesses to create websites that represent their brand and provide great user experiences for their customers, a good website design agency can be an invaluable resource. Industry-leading web design companies boast teams of experts skilled in website design, including user experience (UX) design, visual design, front-end development, and back-end development.
A strong understanding of internet marketing and SEO (search engine optimization) is a trademark feature of excellent web design firms — it helps companies develop websites that are beautiful, consistently rank highly in search engines, and attract more visitors.
The best design firms deliver on all of these fronts. This is why we’ve compiled a list of the top 10 web design companies worldwide.
What to Look for in a Web Design Agency?
When hiring a firm to do custom web design, you’ll want to consider their experience, portfolio, process, and cost. Additionally, finding a company you can trust is essential to be an equal and competent partner in bringing the website to life.
The best way to find a website design company is to ask for referrals from other businesses in your industry. Once you have a few companies in mind, look at their portfolios and read reviews from past clients.
When you’ve narrowed your options, schedule a discovery call or meeting with each company to learn more about them and their process. This is also an opportunity for you to ask any questions and get a feel for whether or not they would be a good fit for your project.
Top 10 Web Design Companies in the World — Global Ratings for July 2024:
#1 — Clay
If you had to choose a single city to find a world-class company, there’s a good chance that San Francisco would be the first place you’d think of. SF (or The City, as locals call it) is known for being a haven for technology, startups, and innovation — and it’s also the home to Clay, a leading web design agency. You only need to head to Clay’s website to see its team’s design chops, and in case that’s not enough, refer to past projects like Marqeta.
As you might expect for an agency based in Silicon Valley, Clay has an impressive list of past clients, having worked with companies like Snap and Amazon. However, it now works on many fintech and web3 projects.
Founding Date: 2009
Employees: 50+
Minimum Project Price: $50,000
Hourly Fee: $150 — $199
Clients: Slack, Facebook, Google, Amazon, Zenefits, Cisco
Expertise: web design, content production, content strategy, frontend & backend development, CMS implementation
Social Media Channels: Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, Facebook
#2 — Huge
It’s not just the name “Huge” that’s big. With over two decades of experience, Huge runs a large-scale global operation with 13 offices and over a thousand employees. These offices are in key cities, including Brooklyn, Oakland, Birmingham, Chicago, Washington, Los Angeles, Toronto, Singapore, and London. The agency is known for its innovative ideas, having achieved a slot on Fast Company’s list of the top 100 workplaces for innovators. This recognition assures you that you won’t have a generic approach.
If you want your next web design project to be massive and to do something a little different, Huge might be the full-service digital transformation agency you want as your partner. With an impressive client list that includes McDonald’s and Spotify, it’s clear that Huge is doing something right.
Founding Date: 1999
Employees: 1200+
Minimum Project Price: $5,000
Hourly Fee: $50 — $99
Clients: Google, AMC Theaters, Gucci, Hulu, Nike, LG
Expertise: web and mobile app development & design, content design, API & CMS development
Social Media Channels: LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram
#3 — Code & Theory
Creating a fantastic website is about more than coding and theory; make no mistake — Code & Theory is an agency with creativity. Calling itself “digital-first,” the agency prides itself on using designs and visual elements that work for the technological landscape and drive conversion, taking a data-driven approach at every step.
Code & Theory operates from offices in New York and Pasig City, positioning itself at the heart of dynamic, global markets. Their past projects include redesigning none other than the Vogue website and designing promotional materials for the Adidas Superstar range. Need we say more?
Founding Date: 2001
Employees: 1000+
Minimum Project Price: $250,000
Hourly Fee: $200 — $300
Clients: Amazon, Polestar, Pfizer, TikTok
Expertise: Data, Research & Testing, Services, Platforms & Products, Business Consulting & Design Transformation
Social Media Channels: X, LinkedIn, Instagram
#4 — Shiftbrain
Shiftbrain is a Japanese web design firm that launched in 2003. Since then, it has won numerous industry awards and established a second office in the Netherlands, with its primary office in Tokyo. The digital design agency aims to produce creations that communicate business value without sacrificing creativity, and it counts giants like Toyota and Starbucks as past clients.
The company clearly outlines its workflow (from scope to strategy to communication) and standard timeframes on its website, so you know exactly what to expect before you contact them. However, rest assured that you’ll be in for a pleasant surprise regarding the final design.
Founding Date: 2003
Employees: 10–49
Minimum Project Price: $5,000
Hourly Fee: $100 — $149
Clients: Toyota, Starbucks, LEXUS Magazine
Expertise: Identity, Communication, Digital Strategy, Web design, Interactive
Social Media Channels: X, Facebook, Instagram, note, Behance
#5 — Active Theory
From offices in Los Angeles and Amsterdam, Active Theory is here to push the boundaries.
It is almost impossible to call Active Theory a web design company when the agency offers so much more. This is a business that always endeavors to be on the cutting edge, so as well as websites, it builds an array of virtual and augmented reality experiences, including an interactive Hogwarts website for Harry Potter fans to explore.
Founding Date: 2012
Employees: 19
Minimum Project Price: $25,000
Hourly Fee: $150 — $199
Clients: Rick and Morty, Magic Leap, Blue Shield, Google, Coachella
Expertise: Creative HTML5 & JS Development, Digital Advertising, Technology Direction, Front & Back-end Development, Art Direction & Design, Creative Direction & Concepting
Social Media Channels: Instagram, LinkedIn, X
You know where to go if you want to take your business to the next level.
#6 — Superunion
Superunion is a definitively global company. Their team of industry-leading designers is spread across sixteen offices on five continents from Berlin to Bangkok.
Superunion’s consistency and creativity are well respected in the world of graphic design and, over the years, have landed the company hundreds of awards. Big-name brands like Ford, Coca-Cola, Nespresso, and Microsoft are Superunion’s impressive portfolio staples. By creatively foregrounding ideas, revolutionary approaches and unique solutions are the natural results. Superunion became a pillar of the industry by consistently pushing the visual envelope for years in the avant-garde of global graphic design too.
Founding Date: 2018
Employees: 500
Minimum Project Price: $10,000
Hourly Fee: $150 — $199
Clients: Guinness, BBC Two, China Duty Free, Shakespeare’s Globe, Eurovision 2023, Riot Games
Expertise: brand strategy, identity, communications, brand engagement, reputation and brand management
Social Media Channels: Facebook, X, LinkedIn, Instagram
#7 — Razorfish
Transformation is the heart and soul of Razorfish. The company transforms brands through unique and personalized experiences that create omni-channel engagement. By reaching across industries, the NYC-based design firm helps all kinds of brands reveal, articulate, and activate their purpose and potential. In the world of design, Razorfish is spearheading visual and technological adaptations for the transformations brought on by Web3 and the Metaverse. Razorfish also emphasizes intimate designer-client relationships — innovative partnerships unleash creative potential uniquely tailored to the specific conditions of each and every project in ways otherwise not possible.
Founding Date: 1995
Employees: 2000+
Minimum Project Price: $5,000
Hourly Fee: $150 — $199
Clients: Dove, Cadillac Rise, Porsche Engine Notes
Expertise: Innovation Workshops & Prototyping, Mobile Applications, Data-Driven Digital Ecosystems & Commerce, Data-Driven Optimization, CRM & Modern Loyalty
Social Media Channels: Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram
#8 — AKQA
The future of design lies squarely with AKQA. With studios worldwide, AKQA’s team brings a cutting-edge, future-oriented design vision to life with professionalism and meticulous attention to the details of user experience. Timeless brands like Nike, Sony, and Google have worked with AKQA. Interdisciplinary studio, product, service, and experience design are all within the scope of what they do. Whether integrating sustainable design principles to visually contour environments, or addressing real-world challenges creatively in product design, AKQA brings images of the future to life — faster.
Founding Date: 1994
Employees: 3,000+
Minimum Project Price: $10,000
Hourly Fee: $50 — $99
Clients: Coca-Cola, Louis Vuitton, Hyundai, General Motors, Miro, Nike, TikTok, Sephora, Sony, Tinder, Rolls-Royce Motor Cars, Fanta, Levi’s
Expertise: Media, search and analytics, (Digital) business transformation and Consulting, Interface design, Product development, Digital content creation and distribution, Social media marketing
Social Media Channels: Instagram, X, LinkedIn
#9 — DEPT
Some design studios play catch up with new trends — but not DEPT. By combining a global client reach with an innovative boutique vision, this full-service design company helps brands effectively align with visual and technological zeitgeist shifts. With 4,000 specialists in 30 locations, DEPT has expanded over the past few years into a worldwide institution. The company prides itself on comprehensive and integrated end-to-end digital design experiences. Future-oriented technology solutions for companies are merged with performance and solid data strategies. By focusing as much on visual presentation as technological precision, DEPT creatively uses data, mechanical know-how and cutting-edge trends to create compelling user experiences.
Founding Date: 2016
Employees: 4,000+
Minimum Project Price: $100,000
Hourly Fee: $150 — $199
Clients: eBay, Philips, Patagonia, Netflix, Disney, Sprite, Reddit, Beiersdorf / NIVEA, Google, Twitch, Adobe
Expertise: web and app development, CX/UX platforms, commerce platforms, UX & design, e-commerce & web design, conversational & voice, metaverse practice
Social Media Channels: LinkedIn, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Twitch
#10 — Base Design
Base Design understands that culture is key. In the current era, cultural impact and product performance are deeply intertwined. Across its studios in Melbourne, Geneva, Brussels, and New York, Base Design brings brands to life and helps them be remembered and admired in their respective industries through culturally impactful designs. The design studio focuses on creating experiences that nurture a sense of belonging for those who use them. For over 25 years, Base Design has worked with companies, nonprofits, and more on everything from brand strategy and development to packaging and book design. This broad scope of skill sets and consistency, complemented by a depth of personnel, has made Base Design an industry leader for decades.
Founding Date: 1997
Employees: 150+
Minimum Project Price: $5,000
Hourly Fee: $50 — $99
Clients: The New York Times, Museum of Fine Arts in Boston, Dior, MoMA
Expertise: Digital Strategy, Digital Design, Art Direction, Graphic Design, Marketing Collateral, Typeface Design, Web Development
Social Media Channels: Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn
network of creative studios specializing
in branding and communications
How to Know Whether You Need a Web Design Company?
If you’ve read this far and aren’t sure whether you need web design services, don’t worry. Here are a few signs that it’s time to start looking for a web design company:
#1 You Don’t Have a Website
If you don’t have a website, you need one. Period. There’s no way around it. A website is essential for businesses in the modern world — no matter your industry.
#2 Your Website Is Outdated
If your website is over a few years old, it’s probably time to update. Technology changes quickly, and your website needs to keep up if you want to stay relevant. An outdated website will turn customers away, as it looks unprofessional and like you don’t care about your business.
#3 You’re Not Getting Any Traffic
If you have a website, but you’re not getting any traffic, it might be due to poor design. A good web design company will be able to help you fix any issues that are preventing customers from finding your site.
#4 Your Website Isn’t Mobile-Friendly
A mobile-friendly website is essential in the modern world. More and more people are using their phones and tablets to browse the internet, so you must ensure your website can be viewed on these devices. If not, you’re losing out on a lot of potential business.
#5 You’re Not Happy With Your Current Website
If you’re unhappy with your current website, it’s probably time to change. A web design company can help you create a site you’re proud of that accurately reflects your business and helps you achieve your goals.
What Does a Web Design Company Do?
A web design company will work with you to create a new website that meets your specific business needs. By comprehensively considering your branding, target audience, and marketing goals, the company’s designers will create a visually appealing website that increases the number of visitors and conversion rate on your website.
Web designers (and even more specifically, UX and UI researchers) will study your target audience to design the website to meet the audience’s specific interests and desires. A mixture of your company’s brand positioning and the demographics of your target audience inform not only how the visual language of the website will be designed but how that language can (and will) speak directly to those you are targeting.
Web developers will add to this design-development process by integrating your content management system and other business-specific applications into your website. A web designer will ensure that website visitors find the experience engaging, visually appealing, and easy to navigate.
Arguably the clearest benefit of professional web design is its mix of artistic creativity and technical know-how. For example, the smooth way websites can move between being displayed on a desktop/laptop to mobile apps or a tablet is no simple design task — it requires attention, skill, and experience. Web design elements are crucial given how many people use different devices to access the internet.
How to Choose the Best Web Design Company
When choosing a web design company, it can be difficult to know where to start. With so many providers offering different services at different prices, it can take time to figure out who to trust.
Do your research
The first step is to do your research on potential providers. Look at their websites, read their case studies and client testimonials, and get a feel for their work. This will give you a good idea of the quality of their work and whether or not they are a good fit for your business.
Ask for recommendations
If you know anyone who has recently had a website designed or developed, ask them for recommendations. Chances are they will be more than happy to share their experiences and help you find the right provider.
Look for experience
When looking at web design companies, looking for one with experience designing and developing websites for businesses like yours is essential. This way, you can be sure they will understand your needs and requirements and will be able to design and develop a website that meets your specific goals.
Check their portfolio
A good web design company should have a strong portfolio of work. Look at their past projects and see if they have experience designing and developing websites for businesses in your industry. This will give you a good idea of whether or not they are the right fit.
Get a quote
Once you’ve narrowed your options, it’s time to get some quotes. Getting a quote is critical because it can help set your expectations about how much you should expect to pay for the design and development of your website.
How to Scale a Web Design Company?
A web design project can often blossom — in this case, the scale will need to be adjusted. Ensuring you’ve partnered with a professional web design company is key to ensuring your website can grow naturally and smoothly.
Software choices in the early stages of your web design will either benefit you or come back to haunt you — make sure this is a topic of a lengthy conversation with the design company.
For example, do the professional, website development and design companies you’ve contracted with intend to use a static HTML-based website or something more sophisticated, like WordPress?
WordPress is a content management system (CMS) used by millions worldwide, including many small businesses and bloggers. Because it is a free, open-source platform that can quickly scale as needed, it is often the first choice for small businesses that plan to increase their web presence over time.
Where are the Best Website Agencies Located?
San Francisco is one of the best areas to look for a website design agency. They have over 100 companies offering a mix of web design services, brand identity, UI/UX, SEO, and so on.
It’s no surprise that there is such a density of top-flight web design companies in the area, given its proximity to Silicon Valley. However, you’ll find branches of most of the best web design agencies worldwide in other major cities, such as New York, London, and Paris.
How Long Does the Web Design Process Take?
Any web design firm can give you an approximate timescale based on their experience and the scope of the web design services you have hired them to provide.
The web design begins with a discovery call or meeting to assess your company’s needs and goals. From there, the web design firm will create a website proposal outlining the scope of work and estimated cost.
Once you’ve approved the proposal, the website design company will get to work. Usually, design and development take about 4–6 weeks, while 2–4 weeks of testing culminate in the launch.
After your website goes live, the best web design companies will continue to support and maintain your website with monthly retainers or as-needed support.
How Much Does Professional Web Design Cost?
Most web design companies have a minimum project fee and a per-hour rate for a typical website design project. These can range from $5,000 — $10,000 for a small website to upwards of $100,000+ for a more extensive website or eCommerce store.
Additionally, top web design companies often offer monthly retainers for ongoing support and maintenance. These can range from $500 — $5,000 per month, depending on several factors, including size, complexity, and functionality.
Some companies use very high-end designers to make their websites look excellent. They might also pay a lot for this service. The reason is simple: a professional-looking website effectively drives traffic and increases the conversion rate.
Some of the world’s most popular brands have paid quite a bit to create and design their websites. For example, Nike reportedly paid millions of dollars for their website design in 2008 — compare this to the 35$ they paid for their famous swoosh logo in 1971!
While you may not have the budget of a Fortune 500 company, it’s essential to invest in professional web design if you want your website to be effective. A well-designed website will attract more visitors, generate more leads and ultimately help your business grow.
What Website Design Services Makes a Web Design Company Offer?
Beyond just creating a visually stunning website, the best web design companies can offer additional services, including some or all of the following:
Website Design
Web design is creating the layout, graphics, colors, and fonts used on the website. Developing the website’s structure, including the navigation menus and page titles, is also a critical part of this process.
Market Research
Market research is also a component of web design. It is when researchers collect and analyze data about a particular market. This information can help businesses understand their target audience, identify new marketing opportunities, and more.
Search Engine Optimization (SEO)
Search engine optimization (SEO) is the process of improving the ranking of a website on search engines. This can be done by optimizing the website’s content, structure, and metadata for search engines. SEO can also be done by researching keywords and creating links to other websites.
Social media marketing
Using social media platforms such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn to promote a business defines social media marketing. This can include posting updates about the company, sharing blog posts, and running ads. Social media marketing can be a very effective way to reach potential customers. Media-conscious brands must make the integration between social media platforms and their website feel as organic and seamless as possible.
Email marketing
Email marketing is the process of using email to promote a business. This can include sending out regular emails about the company, sharing blog posts, and running ads. Email marketing can be a very effective way to reach potential customers.
What are the Different Types of Web Design Companies?
There are three main types of web design companies: Boutique, agency, and freelancer.
Boutique Web Design Company
A boutique website design company that specializes in creating custom websites for small businesses. They will work with you to create a unique website representing your brand, effectively driving traffic, and increasing customer conversion.
Website Design Agency
A full-service digital agency is a larger company that offers a wide range of services, from web design to marketing. They will work with you to create a website that meets your needs and web design goals.
Freelance Website Design
Freelancers work independently to create custom websites for businesses. Like web design companies, they will help your website increase conversions and communicate the brand language. They may provide a smaller range of services but an intimate client-designer relationship.
How Can You Help Web Design Service Providers Build You a Better Website?
If you want a good website, you need to help the people who design it. You can do this by giving them information about your business and what you want your website to do.
Here are a few things you can do to help the designers provide you with an excellent final product.
Tell them about your business
Even the best web design agencies need some direction to provide the best web design services they can. Explaining in detail how your business operates, what it does, and why will deepen and fill in their vision for the best web design agency.
Explain the target market
A professional web design company will happily undertake audience research — but they will need to know who you were hoping to target.
Sometimes the target audience needs to align with who the website is reaching, resulting in lower conversion rates.
Outline the competition and state of the industry
Always ensure the design company you’re working with understands your competition and any market specifics your experience has taught you. By clarifying your market-specific goals (and place within them), all aspects of the design process improve, from graphic design and website redesign to any associated digital marketing strategy.
Have an idea of what you want your website to look like
You may not have a definite idea, and that’s fine. But it will help if you can give the web design company some idea, be it other websites you like, colors you’re drawn to, or functionality you need.
Top web design agencies typically are used to doing the heavy lifting. Give them some starting points and wait for the first draft designs. A little guidance can go a long way.
List the functions you want to see
Functionality is just as important as design when it comes to a website. If you want your website to do something specific, such as sell products or services, sign people up for a newsletter, or generate leads, make sure the website design company knows.
Transparency with your initial vision empowers the agency to design and develop a website tailored to your business needs.
Be available to answer questions
Web development companies will get to work once you have provided your initial thoughts and information. After that, they will need to touch base with you periodically to check on details, show you custom website ideas, and ask for feedback.
Don’t drop off the face of the earth once the project has begun, and expect a fully fleshed-out site on the deadline without answering a few questions along the way.
Exhibit patience
Designing and developing a website typically takes 4–6 weeks, so try not to get too antsy. This timeline can be shortened if you already have a working website and are only looking for a website redesign, but allow the design company you’re working with a bit of time to do what it does best.
Always provide feedback
The purpose of being shown mock-ups and concepts is so you can give feedback. If you don’t voice your opinion, you may end up with a website design you’re not happy with, and no one wants that.
Test your website before it goes live
A fully working prototype of your website should exist before it goes live. This will allow you to test the site’s functionality and give feedback on changes that need to be made.
Be available to answer questions after your website is live
Typically, any professional web designer will stick around for a while once a new website is launched to check that everything is running smoothly and that you do not have any questions about functions on the site.
Once they know you’re happy with the website and everything is operating correctly, they can finally mark your project as complete.
What to Ask a Web Design Company Before Hiring One
When choosing the best web design company for your business, there are many vital questions you need to ask. Here’s what you should consider before making your final decision:
What is your design process?
Be wary if a website design firm doesn’t have a set design process. A good web design company will take you through the entire process, from understanding your business needs to designing custom website concepts to development and launch.
Do you have any case studies or examples of previous work?
Most website design agencies should have a strong portfolio of previous work to show they’re the real deal. This will give you an idea of their style and what they’re capable of.
Do you have any additional services that could benefit my business?
Beyond web design and development, the top web design companies offer additional digital marketing services, such as SEO, social media marketing, and content writing. If you’re looking for a one-stop shop to help with your digital marketing efforts, you should look out for such web development companies.
What is your pricing structure?
Be sure to get a detailed breakdown of pricing from the website designer. Ask about additional costs that could come up during or after the design process. Also, find out if they offer any discounts for longer projects.
What is the timeline for designing and launching my website?
Again, this will vary between website design agencies. However, you should know how long the project will take and when you can expect your new website to go live.
What happens once my website is live?
Will the web design service provide support and maintenance? Do they offer any guarantees? What is their policy on making changes to the site? Before starting work with web development, be sure to get all of this information in writing.
How do I contact you if I have questions or need support?
Get the web design agency’s contact information before starting work. You should have their phone number, email address, and (ideally) live chat support if you need to contact them.
The website design company you choose should be able to answer all of these questions without hesitation. If they can’t, it’s a definite red flag and an indication it’s time to look elsewhere.
Summing up
With outstanding web and app development done, top web design companies can help take your business to the next level. They have the experience and expertise to create a website that looks great, functions well, and delivers results.
You can expect the offered digital services to include web design and development, SEO, social media marketing, and content writing. Before starting work with them, ask about their pricing structure, website launch timeline, and guarantees.
Make sure to communicate with your design company’s previous clients. They can tell you truthfully if they got everything they wanted and needed from the company you’re going to work with.
Following these tips is a simple yet almost guaranteed way to ensure that the website you dream of having is the website you end up with. Such a hefty yet critical investment should be undertaken with care and informed consideration so that your business gets everything it can out of its web presence.
Good luck!
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