Custom website design

Built for your business—not forced into someone else's template.

Every business is different. Your services, your content structure, your customer journey—they don't fit a one-size-fits-all template. That's why I build each website custom to your specific needs using Squarespace or Duda platforms.

Why "custom" doesn't mean complicated or expensive

Here's what most people don't realize: With deep platform expertise, building a site tailored specifically to your business is often faster and more effective than trying to force-fit a generic template.

I know Squarespace and Duda inside and out. I understand how to structure navigation for your industry, which features actually serve your goals, and how to build accessibility compliance from the start. Starting from a blank wireframe and building exactly what you need typically delivers better results in less time than wrestling with someone else's assumptions about what your business should look like.

What about AI website builders?

AI tools can absolutely generate a working website quickly—and they're getting better every month. I'm not against them. In fact, I use AI tools in my workflow.

But here's what AI-generated sites consistently miss:

Accessibility compliance. AI doesn't understand the nuance of WCAG 2.1 AA standards. It might create visually appealing designs with contrast ratios that fail compliance, navigation that doesn't work with keyboards, or images without proper alt text. For government agencies, nonprofits, or any business concerned about ADA liability, this is a critical gap.

Strategic decisions about YOUR business. AI can build a site structure, but it can't tell you whether your services should be organized by industry or by service type. It doesn't know if your customers care more about pricing transparency or portfolio examples. It can't guide you through "should we put this content on the homepage or bury it three clicks deep?"

The human judgment calls. What should this actually say? Is this feature worth the cost? Does this design choice align with how your customers think? Will you actually maintain this, or are we building something you'll abandon in six months?

Think of AI website builders like template platforms—they're useful tools that still require expertise to implement well. The difference is whether you're learning that expertise through trial and error, or working with someone who's already solved these problems hundreds of times.

If you want to explore AI tools yourself, I'm happy to guide you through what works and what doesn't. If you'd rather have someone handle it who knows how to use these tools and fill in their gaps, that's what I'm here for.

What "custom" actually means

✓ Navigation that matches how YOUR customers think—not a generic menu structure
✓ Content layout designed for YOUR services—not forcing your story into preset boxes
✓ Features you'll actually use—scheduling, forms, payments, galleries—configured for your workflow
✓ Accessibility built in from day one—proper contrast, keyboard navigation, alt text, WCAG 2.1 AA compliance
✓ Design that reflects your brand—not a template 50 other businesses are using

The platform advantage

Squarespace and Duda give you professional CMS capability without the complexity of WordPress or the cost of fully custom code. You can update your own content, add pages, modify text and images—without calling me for every small change.

But unlike template-based builders, where you're stuck with someone else's design decisions, I customize these platforms to work exactly as your business needs.

What's included

Every website I build includes:

  • WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance from launch

  • SEO best practices are integrated throughout

  • SSL security standard on all sites

  • Full ownership and control of your site and content

  • Training so you can manage updates yourself

  • Ongoing support options if you'd rather have me handle updates

Whether you need:

  • A brand-new web presence from scratch

  • A complete redesign of an outdated site

  • Additional features for an existing site

  • Migration from a platform that's not working

You'll get a website built specifically for your goals—accessible, manageable, and effective.

Ready to discuss your project?

Contact me to talk through what you need. No sales pressure, no cookie-cutter proposals—just a straightforward conversation about building a website that actually works for your business.