Squarespace website design

Professional Squarespace sites built for accessibility, performance, and long-term success.

I've built approximately 70 Squarespace websites for Missouri businesses, nonprofits, government agencies, and professionals since 2010. As a Squarespace Circle Member and recognized Squarespace Expert, I bring deep platform knowledge and access to resources that directly benefit your project.

Why Squarespace

Squarespace isn't a "beginner platform"—it's a strategic choice. It offers robust features, including e-commerce, blogging, scheduling, memberships, and content management, without the security vulnerabilities, constant updates, and technical overhead of WordPress. For businesses that need a professional web presence, they can actually manage themselves; it's an excellent foundation.

The difference is in how it's built.

My Squarespace expertise

I work with both Squarespace 7.0 and 7.1, with deep knowledge of the 7.0 Brine template family and the newer 7.1 fluid engine. This means I understand:

  • How to customize beyond default templates using code injection and CSS

  • Which features work best for your specific industry (nonprofits vs. e-commerce vs. professional services)

  • How to build WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance into Squarespace sites from day one

  • Platform limitations and workarounds so you don't discover problems after launch

  • Custom solutions for search functionality, navigation, forms, and integrations

Over the years, I've developed reusable code libraries for common accessibility fixes, custom widgets, and functionality enhancements that aren't available through Squarespace's standard features. Your site benefits from solutions I've refined across dozens of projects.

Circle Member benefits for your project

My Squarespace Circle membership provides direct value to you:

  • Cost savings: I can pass along Circle member discounts on your first-year subscription

  • Extended trial period: More time to review and approve your site before committing to hosting

  • Priority support access: When I need help from Squarespace directly, I get faster response times

  • Early access to features: Your site can benefit from new platform capabilities as they're released

These aren't just perks—they translate to real cost savings and smoother project delivery.

Accessibility on Squarespace

Squarespace's default templates often fail accessibility standards—poor color contrast, missing skip links, inadequate keyboard navigation, and problematic heading structures. I fix these issues during development using custom CSS and code injection, ensuring your site meets WCAG 2.1 AA requirements from launch.

This is particularly important for:

  • Government agencies (legally required to meet accessibility standards)

  • Nonprofits (serving diverse communities, including people with disabilities)

  • Educational institutions (ADA compliance requirements)

  • Any business concerned about legal liability or inclusive service

Who Squarespace works well for

Squarespace is an excellent fit when you need:

✓ Professional design without constant developer dependency - You can update your own content, add pages, and manage blog posts
✓ E-commerce capability - Sell products, accept donations, process payments
✓ Content management your team can handle - Train staff to make updates without breaking the site
✓ Integrated features - Scheduling, email campaigns, forms, galleries without juggling plugins
✓ Reliable security and hosting - Squarespace handles updates, backups, and SSL certificates
✓ Accessibility compliance - When built correctly with custom code enhancements

What I provide

Every Squarespace site I build includes:

  • Custom design tailored to your brand and business needs (not just a template)

  • WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility compliance from day one

  • SEO optimization, including proper structure, meta descriptions, and performance tuning

  • Training so you can confidently manage your own updates

  • Documentation of any custom code or special features

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

Version guidance: 7.0 vs 7.1

Squarespace 7.0 vs 7.1: What you need to know

Squarespace has two version families: the original 7.0 (including the popular Brine template) and the newer 7.1, which features a fluid engine design system.

For new projects: I recommend Squarespace 7.1. It's the current platform receiving ongoing updates, new features, and long-term support from Squarespace. The fluid engine offers more design flexibility and better mobile responsiveness out of the box.

If you have an existing 7.0 website: It will continue to function reliably. Squarespace 7.0 is mature and stable—not receiving new features, but not broken either. Many of my clients still run successful 7.0 sites, including those built on the Brine template. However, if you're planning significant changes, considering accessibility improvements, or want access to newer Squarespace features, migration to 7.1 might make sense. I can help you evaluate whether migration serves your goals or if your current 7.0 site is working fine as-is.

My expertise in both versions means I can maintain your existing 7.0 site, migrate to 7.1 when it makes sense, or build new projects on the current platform—whatever best serves your business.

Is Squarespace right for your project?

Squarespace works well for most small to medium businesses, nonprofits, professional practices, and organizations with straightforward e-commerce needs. If you need highly specialized database functionality or complex custom applications, we might explore Duda or other platforms instead.

But for the vast majority of businesses looking for a professional, accessible, manageable website, Squarespace, properly built and customized, is an excellent choice.

Ready to discuss your Squarespace project?

Contact me to talk through your needs. Whether you're building a new site, redesigning an existing one, or adding accessibility compliance to your current Squarespace site, I'll provide straightforward guidance on what's possible and what it takes.