About Magellan Design: Web Designers in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk
At Magellan Design, we pride ourselves on delivering bespoke web design and development solutions from our base in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk. With over 20 years of experience, we’ve helped local businesses and international clients achieve their digital goals through tailored websites, expert SEO strategies, and cutting-edge technology. Whether you're a Suffolk-based company or an organisation beyond the county, we’re here to create digital experiences that drive results.
Crafting Bespoke Web Solutions Since 2003
Established on June 28th, 2000, Magellan Design has been at the forefront of web design and development for over two decades. Based in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, we specialise in creating high-quality, custom websites tailored to enhance businesses' online presence. Whether you're a local startup or an international enterprise, we provide scalable, secure, and performance-driven web solutions that meet your unique needs.
At Magellan Design, we pride ourselves on a hand-coded approach, ensuring every project is built from the ground up. This method guarantees clean, efficient, and search engine-optimised code, setting your business apart from competitors relying on template-based solutions. From simple websites to complex web applications, we provide a solid foundation for long-term success online.
SEO Expertise for Bury St Edmunds and Suffolk
As SEO specialists based in Suffolk, we help businesses in Bury St Edmunds and beyond improve their online visibility and generate meaningful leads. Our tailored strategies include keyword research, content optimisation, on-page SEO and technical SEO services designed to enhance your website's performance.
For businesses in Suffolk looking to attract a wider audience or expand into global markets, our SEO services ensure your website ranks highly in search results. We combine local expertise with proven techniques to deliver results that drive traffic, engagement, and conversions.
Behind the company name: Magellan Design
I chose the name Magellan Design after the renowned explorer, Ferdinand Magellan. Before founding the company in 2000, I had deep connections with Portugal and Spain, having lived and worked in Portugal for several years, with frequent business trips to Spain.
Magellan’s vision, determination, and relentless pursuit of success were qualities I greatly admire, and they served as my inspiration for naming the company.
The Journey
Starting a business is like embarking on a journey. Ours began on June 28th, 2000. Here’s a look back at some of the milestones that have shaped our path.
2000: Graphic Design Origins
We started in graphic design, primarily focusing on print materials, including large-format graphics. It was always exciting to see our designs come to life in public spaces, such as when we created visuals for the Theatre Royal in Norwich (2006) and Blondie’s stage performance in Newmarket (2011).
2002–2003: Entering the Digital Space
As the internet revolutionised the business landscape, we embraced the change and moved into offices on Western Way, Bury St Edmunds. We began creating interactive portfolio websites using Flash, incorporating fluid animations and more sophisticated application-like behaviour via ActionScript, Flash’s scripting language.
2007: Shifting to HTML and CSS
With the launch of the iPhone and its lack of Flash support, we recognised the need for change. As Flash's popularity waned, we moved into building websites using HTML, CSS, and JavaScript. This shift marked a pivotal moment in our evolution.
2010: The Rise of HTML5
HTML5 emerged, bringing multimedia capabilities that allowed us to build websites with animations—though initially not as smooth or performant as Flash. Over time, HTML5's capabilities improved and, in many areas, surpassed Flash.
2012: Embracing Responsive Design
As responsive design became essential, especially with Google's endorsement for SEO, we began adopting the Bootstrap framework to build mobile-friendly, responsive websites.
2017: A Challenging Year
2017 was a particularly difficult year for us, as we faced severe financial strain due to late payments from Jordan’s Dorset Ryvita, a subsidiary of Associated British Foods. After working successfully with other companies within the Associated British Foods group for many years, we were recommended and approached by Jordan’s Dorset Ryvita to provide services.
We agreed to their 90-day payment terms and began working on the project. However, two invoices became overdue, causing a significant cash flow problem. The first invoice, dated July 2017, was only paid in January 2018 after much effort on our part. The second invoice, due in November 2017, was eventually settled in June 2018, following our formal complaint against the company's late payment practices.
The case was investigated by the Office of the Small Business Commissioner, and Jordan’s Dorset Ryvita was publicly named and shamed by Paul Uppal, the commissioner at the time, for their late payment practices. The findings remain part of the public record.
2018–2019: A New Chapter
We relocated to Eastern Way, Bury St Edmunds and refocused our business model. Moving away from larger corporate clients, we began focusing on SMEs, offering affordable web solutions. This shift helped grow our client base and set the stage for future success.
2020: Adapting to COVID-19
When the WHO declared COVID-19 a Public Health Emergency of International Concern on January 30, 2020, businesses like pubs and restaurants were hit hard. We pivoted quickly, launching a food ordering web application that gained local media attention. One of our new clients shared their experience:
We somewhat stumbled across Magellan Design after reading a newspaper article offering support to small businesses during this dreadful Covid’19 pandemic. And what a fabulous ’stumble’ it proved to be!
Despite the challenges of communication and being unable to meet in person Andrew of Magellan provided our business with an excellent and effective bespoke online ordering system for our pizza takeaway service, instantly understanding our needs. But arguably the speed and efficiency of the launch of an event booking system was incredible and even more impressive.
At any time of day Andrew has been available to support our business. Thanks so much the kind assistance which has been sincerely appreciated by us all at Team Sorrel.
2023–2024: Navigating a Changing Landscape
The COVID-19 pandemic had a significant impact on the web design industry, leading to a rise in web designers starting businesses using WordPress and similar no-code frameworks. This resulted in increased competition and often led to lower prices for basic web design services, frequently at the expense of quality.
To set ourselves apart, we focus on targeting niche markets and offering custom web applications, high-performance websites, and SEO services.
While many businesses opt for low-cost solutions, others recognise the long-term value of investing in a more tailored approach for sustained success.
Our trading address remains Eastern Way, where we occasionally meet with clients. However, like many modern businesses, we prioritise remote working to reduce overhead costs and contribute to a more sustainable environment.
Affordable Web Development Without Compromise
We believe every business, regardless of size or budget, deserves access to quality web solutions. At Magellan Design, we offer competitively priced services without sacrificing attention to detail or performance.
Our custom websites are designed to be user-friendly, secure, and results-oriented. Whether you need a brand-new website, help with an existing project, or dedicated SEO services, we’re here to make your vision a reality. Contact us today to learn how we can help your business thrive online.
Our Key Values: Excellence, Innovation, and Support
Magellan Design is committed to delivering exceptional results for each client. Here’s what sets us apart:
- Client-Focused Solutions: We work closely with you to understand your goals and create designs that reflect your brand's personality and objectives.
- Hand-Coded Precision: Every website is developed from scratch, ensuring custom features, robust functionality, and superior SEO performance.
- Optimised for Search Engines: Our websites are designed to perform well in search rankings while offering an intuitive user experience.
- Cutting-Edge Technology: We use the latest development standards, including W3C validation, to deliver secure, scalable websites.
- Continuous Support: From initial launch to ongoing updates, we provide reliable support to ensure your website stays fast, secure, and relevant.
When you choose Magellan Design, you’re choosing a team that values your success. Whether you're a business in Bury St Edmunds, Suffolk, or beyond, we deliver web solutions that grow with you.
Going Beyond Web Design: Our Digital Marketing Services
At Magellan Design, we go beyond web design and development to offer a complete suite of digital marketing services. From improving your search engine visibility with SEO to crafting impactful PPC campaigns and engaging content, we provide everything your business needs to succeed online.
Serving clients in Suffolk, Bury St Edmunds, and across five countries, we are your trusted partner for driving digital growth.
Over 20 years of experience building secure, scalable websites.
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