When I posted a project outline on Upwork.com to upgrade my website, I received a proposal from Most Sumaiya Aktar. Out of the freelancers who reached out, she stood out due to her strong presence on social media platforms like Instagram, LinkedIn, and her own website. She appeared to be a professional and reliable web developer, at least on paper.

She descibes herself as: 𝐖𝐞𝐛𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐞 𝐃𝐞𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐨𝐩𝐞𝐫 & 𝐃𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫, 𝐑𝐞𝐝𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐠𝐧𝐞𝐫 || 𝐒𝐄𝐎 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐭 || 𝐖𝐢𝐱 || 𝐒𝐪𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐞𝐒𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞 || 𝐒𝐡𝐨𝐩𝐢𝐟𝐲 || 𝐖𝐨𝐫𝐝𝐩𝐫𝐞𝐬𝐬 || 𝐅𝐢𝐠𝐦𝐚. 𝟏𝟐𝟎𝟎+ 𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐣𝐞𝐜𝐭 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐩𝐥𝐞𝐭𝐞 ,𝟓 𝐒𝐭𝐚𝐫 🌟 𝐑𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐞𝐰𝐬

At first, I actually hired a different team of freelancers based in India. Unfortunately, they struggled to prioritise my project and couldn’t provide a clear timeline. Due to ongoing regional tensions between Pakistan and India, they eventually ended the contract, saying the stressful environment was affecting their ability to work consistently.

I then remembered Sumaiya Aktar and decided to reach out to her via her Instagram profile, @wix_tanisha_abrar. Our conversation soon moved to WhatsApp. Although she provided a quote, she refused to create a written document listing tasks and associated pricing which, in retrospect, was the first red flag.

The Working Process (Or Lack of One)

Her working style immediately raised concerns. She began by creating a homepage that simply replicated the structure of my previous website, with some changes in colors and fonts. There was no conversation about design strategy or user experience. When I told her I expected a remake of the homepage, she claimed I had never mentioned that. However, I had clearly stated this in my Upwork brief and had also shared screenshots of the progress made by the previous developers on the new homepage.

Despite this misunderstanding, I tried to move forward constructively. She asked whether I wanted to complete the homepage her way or using the previous developers’ version. I responded that I was happy with the earlier structure and that she could improve and build upon it. To help her, I even created and shared documents showing the homepage layout I envisioned, as well as ideas for article presentation. I clarified that my suggestions were not rigid and I was hoping she would improve upon them, not just copy them.

The Final Result

The homepage she delivered raised serious concerns:

It used four different fonts, with somewhat imperfect alignment.
Some elements like buttons in the article gallery were awkwardly placed.
Worst of all, the design felt disconnected from my brand and my logo.

Multiple independent designers and creatives who reviewed the site echoed the same criticism: the layout lacked cohesion. She had made no effort to discuss how the website design should reflect the brand identity.

I documented my feedback in two separate files:

That process made me realise something crucial: I was doing her job. Reviewing design alignment, evaluating branding coherence, and gathering external opinions are things the designer should have initiated.

What Should Have Been a Creative Collaboration…

When I sent the feedback, she replied the next day: “I will implement the changes.” But that was precisely the problem: she was simply executing instructions without creative engagement or questioning the bigger picture.

She never provided feedback on my Canva mockup, even though I had clearly explained it was a reference, not a blueprint.

She didn’t take time to understand my goals, or lead conversations to shape the site strategically. She seemed to be working with a checklist mentality, focused on completing tasks rather than building a coherent, effective web experience.

What a Real Designer Should Do

A real web designer should act as a collaborative problem-solver, not just an implementer or button-pusher. They should:

Understand the brand personality and audience
Ask questions about goals and priorities
Interpret visual guides as starting points, not rigid templates
Suggest layout, structure, and colors that reinforce the brand

Instead, I was offered a binary choice:

“Do you want the old version that your previous designers created or should I create a new one?”

What I needed was:

“Thanks for the Canva mockup. I see what you're aiming for — simplicity, article access, and a personal intro. Here's how I can improve that structure to better reflect your brand.”

🚩 Summary of Red Flags:

No proactive design thinking
Either/or framing instead of co-creation
No brand alignment discussion
Implementing without engagement

✅ What I Expected:

Interpretation of my ideas
Design suggestions backed by rationale
Creative elevation, not just task completion

🧱 What Actually Happened:

I ended up doing the creative direction, while the “designer” waited for instructions. This wasn’t a design process, it was delegation without design.

What Happened in the End?

I won’t go into every detail, but to summarise:

I paid a significant upfront fee for the project.
Despite my efforts to collaborate and communicate clearly, the final product was disappointing, both in terms of quality and in how disconnected it felt from my brand.
When I raised concerns and proposed either modifying the way we were working or ending the contract with a partial refund, I received a dismissive and unprofessional response.
Eventually, the project collapsed completely, with no refund, no resolution, and the blame shifted onto me.

I recognise that this was partly my own mistake. It was my first time managing a full website upgrade and migration, and my understanding of branding and design was still evolving. I placed too much trust in someone who didn’t have independent unfiltered client reviews, and I made the critical mistake of not using a platform with built-in protection or mediation, such as Upwork or Fiverr.

Why I’m Publishing This

Because:

I couldn’t leave a review on the platforms where this designer promotes her work (like Wix, Instagram, or LinkedIn)
I believe in protecting others from falling into the same situation
I hope this encourages more accountability and professionalism among freelancers

What I Learned

Work through platforms with built-in protections (Upwork, Fiverr), or always use a written contract with clear deliverables and pricing
Seek independent reviews, not just social media profiles
A good designer is not just a builder, they’re a creative partner who challenges and shapes your ideas
Trust your gut. When something feels off, it usually is

What’s Next

For now, I’m taking a short break from website development. My current website has been running for over five years, and it can survive one more summer.

In the meantime, I’ll:

Reflect on what I really want my website to be
Take a few courses on design and branding
Review other blogs and build a portfolio of inspiration
And next time, I’ll find a designer who can present a vision, not just take instructions

When I’m ready, I’ll happily invest good money in the right person. I will look for someone who gets it, who sees the bigger picture, and who is excited to create something meaningful with me.