Building Fortney Design Co: Lessons Learned from Launching My Freelance Web Design Site

When I set out to build the Fortney Design Co website, I knew I wanted it to do more than just show off some flashy layouts. It had to reflect who I am, how I work, and what I deliver. This wasn’t my first build, but it was the first time I was designing a site to represent myself and my business. That made it personal. And that made it matter.

Starting with Identity

Before writing a single line of code, I had to nail down my brand. After some brainstorming (and a few dozen logo drafts), I landed on the name Fortney Design Co. It felt clean, professional, and rooted. It is the kind of name you could trust with a big idea. From there, I created a monogram logo and paired it with a simple, bold text mark. The color scheme centered around a cyan accent to bring in a fresh, modern energy without overcomplicating the palette.

The Build

The site was hand‑coded using HTML and CSS and hosted on GitHub Pages, a platform I’ve grown comfortable with for fast, reliable deployment. I created a responsive layout that showcases three core service tiers:

• Site Sprint - fast‑turnaround, no‑fluff web builds
• Growth Bundle - a more in‑depth offering, combining web and brand growth tools
• Season‑Long Care - monthly maintenance for clients who want ongoing support

Each offering has its own tone, but they all stick to one core promise: clean, functional websites that get results.

Design Choices that Made a Difference

One big lesson was that visual hierarchy matters more than you think. I iterated on the hero section several times, resizing logos, adjusting spacing, and refining tagline font sizes until it hit that sweet spot where everything just clicked. Another was making sure the hamburger menu sat just right on mobile. Tiny details like padding on mobile headers? They make a big difference in how professional a site feels.

I also included direct CTAs like a Book a Free Discovery Call button linked to Calendly and set up the contact section to connect directly to sales@fortneydesignco.com. Every piece had to serve a purpose, not just take up space.

What I Learned

• Consistency builds trust. From logo placement to color use, keeping things consistent across the site made the experience feel polished.


• Simplicity wins. I avoided overloading the site with animations or unnecessary extras. Clean design and fast load times trump complexity every time.


• Iteration is the secret weapon. Almost nothing stayed the same from my first draft, and that’s a good thing. Iterating quickly (and often) made the site sharper with each pass.


• It’s never really done. Even after launch, I’m tweaking copy, refining design, and keeping everything optimized for mobile.

What’s Next

Now that the site’s live, I’m turning my attention toward outreach, building a client base, and expanding service offerings. I’m also teaming up with my sister, who’s a social media consultant, to offer bundled branding and content packages. Together, we’re aiming to help businesses not only launch, but grow online.

Final Thoughts

Launching the Fortney Design Co website was more than a portfolio exercise; it was a commitment to my own business. It’s a starting line, not a finish line. And with every client project I take on, I’ll bring this same level of care, clarity, and clean execution to the table.

If you’re a small business, startup, or creative looking to make your mark online, let’s build something that works and wins.