Website Design Checker: How to Audit Your Site’s Visual Design in 5 Minutes
Most websites look “fine” but still fail to convert. This guide shows you a simple 5-minute design audit to quickly identify visual problems and fix them without needing design expertise.
You built your website. It looks good to you. But “looks good to me” isn’t a design strategy—it’s a guess.
Most website owners never audit their design. They tweak colors, swap images, and rearrange sections based on gut feelings. Meanwhile, visual problems silently drive visitors away.
The good news: you don’t need to be a designer to spot design problems. You need a systematic way to check what’s working and what isn’t. This guide gives you a 5-minute visual design audit you can run on any page, right now.
Why Most Websites Have Hidden Design Problems
Your website might look professional at first glance, but that doesn’t mean it’s performing well. Common hidden problems include:
Visitors can’t find the CTA — It blends into the page or sits below the fold
The message doesn’t register — The headline gets lost among competing elements
Trust signals are invisible — Testimonials and logos exist but nobody notices them
Mobile experience breaks — A layout that works on desktop falls apart on phones
These aren’t bugs. They’re design hierarchy problems. And they’re invisible to you because you already know where everything is. First-time visitors don’t.
The 5-Minute Website Design Audit
Step 1: The Blur Test (60 seconds)
The blur test is the fastest way to check if your visual hierarchy is working.
How to do it:
Take a screenshot of your page
Apply a 10-15px Gaussian blur (or use a tool like BlurTest)
Look at the blurred version
What to check:
Can you identify the headline? If it disappears in the blur, it’s not prominent enough
Is the CTA button the most colorful/contrasting element? If not, something else is stealing attention
Do decorative elements dominate over functional ones? Images and graphics should support your message, not overpower it
Quick scoring:
Headline visible in blur → ✅
CTA clearly stands out → ✅
Key message area is the focal point → ✅
3/3 = Strong hierarchy. 2/3 = Needs work. 1/3 or less = Major problems.
Step 2: The 5-Second Test (60 seconds)
Show your page to someone for exactly 5 seconds, then close it.
Ask them:
“What was this page about?”
“What were you supposed to do?”
“Did you notice anything else?”
What to check:
If they can’t answer question 1, your headline isn’t clear or prominent enough
If they can’t answer question 2, your CTA is invisible or confusing
If they mention decorative elements before functional ones, your hierarchy is inverted
No one available? Try it yourself with a page you haven’t looked at in a few days. Fresh eyes reveal problems familiarity hides.
Step 3: The Mobile Check (60 seconds)
Pull up your website on your phone. Not a browser resize—your actual phone.
What to check:
Is the headline visible without scrolling?
Can you see the CTA without scrolling?
Is the text readable without zooming?
Are buttons large enough to tap easily with your thumb?
Does any image push key content below the fold?
Common failures:
Desktop hero image takes up the entire mobile screen, pushing the headline below the fold
CTA button is too small or too close to other tappable elements
Text is smaller than 16px and hard to read
Step 4: The Color Audit (60 seconds)
Scan your page and count the distinct colors used for interactive elements (buttons, links, highlights).
What to check:
Does your CTA button use a unique color? It should appear nowhere else on the page
Are links a consistent, recognizable color throughout?
Do multiple elements compete with the same bold color?
Is there a clear “action color” that visitors can learn to associate with clickable things?
The rule: One bold color for action. Everything else gets neutral or muted treatment.
Step 5: The Scroll Check (60 seconds)
Scroll through your entire page at normal speed. Don’t read—just scan.
What to check:
Does each section have a clear purpose you can identify while scrolling?
Is there a consistent visual rhythm (similar spacing, consistent heading sizes)?
Are there any “dead zones” where the page feels empty or confusing?
Does the CTA appear multiple times on long pages?
Is there a clear CTA at the bottom of the page?
Conclusion
Checking your website design doesn’t require a design degree. It requires a systematic approach and fresh eyes.
The 5-minute audit catches the visual hierarchy problems that silently kill conversions.
Your website doesn’t need to be beautiful. It needs to be clear.