Overview
Your website is usually the first impression a potential customer gets of your business. We make sure that impression counts, with design that guides the right people toward the right action.
Design that does a job.
Start a ConversationNorthbase designs websites for businesses right across Australia, and our clients span four continents. We're a small team on the Sunshine Coast and in Melbourne, and if you're local to either you can start with our Sunshine Coast web design page or our page on web design Melbourne.
Good website design isn't just about looking nice, though that matters too. It's about guiding your visitors toward an action: making a call, sending an enquiry, making a purchase. Every layout decision, every colour choice, every button placement is made with that goal in mind.
Every site we design is built around your business, your brand and your customers, so you end up with something that genuinely represents who you are, not a slightly modified version of something a hundred other businesses are also using.
We work closely with you throughout. You'll see your site take shape at each stage, and you'll always have the chance to give feedback before we move forward.
The process
What the design process looks like.
Straightforward and collaborative. No endless revision cycles, no disappearing for weeks at a time.
01
Discovery
Every project starts with scoping. We learn your business, your customers and what the site needs to achieve: competitors, what isn't working now, and what success looks like for you.
02
Wireframes & structure
Before colours or fonts, we map out each page: what goes where, how people move through the site, how the content hierarchy works. Getting this right first saves time later.
03
Visual design
This is where it comes to life. We apply your brand, or develop one, across the full design: typography, colour, spacing, imagery and interactions.
04
Build & launch
Once signed off, we move into build. Design and development are the same team, so nothing gets lost in translation and the finished site matches the design.
What we build
The right platform for the job.
We pick the platform after scoping, based on what the site needs to do and who will run it.
WordPress
For sites your team wants to update themselves: news, events, listings and pages, managed without a developer. More on WordPress web design.
Astro
For fast, lean marketing sites where speed and search performance come first.
Custom builds
For sites that need to do more than publish pages: bookings, portals, integrations or app features. See website development for how we build them.
Brand, if you need it
No brand yet, or one that's outgrown itself? We can develop one as part of the project through our branding and design work.
Selected work
Websites we've designed.
A racing and training facility, a community sports association and a trans-Tasman research program. More on our case studies page.
Website Design
The Lofty Group.
A premium website for a thoroughbred racing and training facility in Cranbourne.
Website Design
Frankston District Netball Association.
A new website for a busy community netball association.
Brand + Website
ANZRAP.
Brand and website for a trans-Tasman respiratory quality-improvement program.
Ready to design your site?
Let's build a website that actually earns its keep.
Clients
“Northbase has reinvented what it is to manage a website and are so great to work with.”
Every screen
Looks great on every phone.
It's the question we get asked most: "will it work on mobile?" The answer is always yes. Every site we design is fully responsive, tested and refined across phones, tablets and desktops so it looks sharp and works properly on whatever your customers are holding.
More than half of all web traffic now comes from a phone, and Google treats mobile-friendliness as a ranking factor. A site that works well on mobile isn't optional, it's the baseline, and we make sure yours clears it.
Common questions
Website design, answered.
Do you design websites for businesses anywhere in Australia?
Yes. Northbase designs websites for businesses right across Australia, and has worked with clients on four continents. Most of the work runs remotely, so where you are is never a barrier.
How long does website design take?
It depends on the size of the site and what it needs to do. Every project starts with a scoping phase, and that is where we set a realistic timeline with you.
Will the design be built around my brand?
Always. Every design is built around your brand, your customers and your goals, not a one-size-fits-all layout. If you don't have a brand yet, we can develop one as part of the project.
Can you also build and maintain the website?
Yes. Design and development are handled by the same team, so nothing gets lost in translation. We also offer ongoing maintenance and support after launch.
Will my website work on mobile?
Yes. Every site we design is fully responsive and tested across phones, tablets and desktops. Mobile-friendliness is also a Google ranking factor, so it matters for your SEO as much as your visitors.
Related reading
From the blog.
Astro vs WordPress.
When to use which, and why — an honest comparison from a team that builds and manages both, ending in a practical decision framework.
Read article
What is Astro?.
A plain-English guide to the framework behind this website — what Astro is, why it's fast, and when it's the right choice for your business.
Read article