What happens in discovery & strategy
What to expect from the discovery and strategy phase — what we do, what we need from you, and what you'll have at the end of it.
Discovery & Strategy is the first phase of your project. Before we design or build anything, we invest time in understanding your business, your goals, and your audience. This phase shapes everything that follows.
Quick summary
In this phase, we ask questions, run a kickoff call, review your existing materials, and agree on the direction of your project. You'll end the phase with a clear brief and a shared understanding of what we're building together.
What we do in this phase
Kickoff call. We start with a video or phone call to meet formally, ask questions about your business, and align on goals. This is the most important meeting of the project — come prepared to talk about who your customers are, what makes your business different, and what success looks like for you.
Review your existing materials. If you have a current website, brand guidelines, competitor examples you like, or content you want to keep, we'll review all of it. Send us everything — even rough notes and old files can be useful.
Define the scope and goals. We'll document exactly what we're building, what it needs to do, and what success looks like. This becomes the foundation for your proposal or project brief.
Agree on the approach. Before moving to design, we'll confirm the sitemap (what pages your site will have), the technology we'll use, and any integrations needed (like a booking system, an online store, or email marketing tools).
What we need from you
Discovery is one of the phases where your input is most important. The better we understand your business, the better the end result.
Before or during this phase, it helps to have ready:
- Your current website URL (if you have one)
- Brand assets — your logo, brand colors, any fonts if you know them
- Examples you like — websites or designs that feel right for your brand, and why
- Your target audience — who are your customers? What do they need?
- Your goals — what should this website help you achieve?
- Content you want to keep — text, images, or pages from your existing site
The more you share, the better the output
Discovery is not a test — there are no wrong answers. Share your instincts, your examples, even your concerns. All of it helps us build something that genuinely fits your business.
What you'll have at the end
By the end of discovery, you'll have:
- A clear, documented project brief (or confirmed proposal) that both sides agree on
- A sitemap — the agreed list of pages your site will include
- Answers to key strategic questions about your audience and positioning
- A timeline and what to expect in the next phase (Design)
Common questions
Related guides
- How we work together
- What happens in the design phase
- How to give feedback that gets results
- What we need from you
Need a hand?
Understanding your project roadmap
How to read your Chykalophia project roadmap, what each section means, and how to stay oriented throughout your project.
What happens in the design phase
What to expect during the design phase — how we create the visual look of your site, how to review designs, and how to give feedback that moves things forward.