Most creatives I meet in Brighton tell me the same thing:
“My website is a complete embarrassment, design-wise.”
That was exactly what Peter, a Brighton-based illustrator, said when we first sat down at the Recovery Hub café. He’d been stuck with a clunky WordPress + Elementor site for years, and every time he logged in he felt “completely baffled.” He wasn’t alone, most non-technical creatives feel the same.
Why This Matters in Brighton
Brighton is full of artists, freelancers, and independent businesses. They don’t need a website with 200 plugins and endless headaches. They need something simple, stylish, and functional that shows off their best work and gets them commissions.
Yet most web designers keep shoving clients onto the same bloated platforms. That’s the mistake.
3 Lessons From This Project
1. Don’t Force Tools That Don’t Fit
Peter tried Elementor because it’s what his old designer used. He hated it. He even gave Tilda a shot — still too fiddly. Squarespace ended up being the winner: clean, intuitive, and perfect for someone who doesn’t want to wrestle with tech.
Lesson: The right platform is the one the client will actually use.
2. Start With Outcomes, Not Features
When we spoke, Peter didn’t say: “I need XYZ plugin.” He said:
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A homepage with one great image
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10 portfolio pieces
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About page
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Commissions page
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Blog (optional)
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Easy links to shop and socials
That’s it. No fluff.
Lesson: Define the real business outcome before touching the design.
3. Domains & Hosting Are Simpler Than People Think
Peter was paying monthly for hosting he didn’t need. His domain was locked in until 2026. The fix? Build the new site on Squarespace and just point the DNS records from Easily to it. One-time setup. Done.
Lesson: Half of “tech overwhelm” is just billing bloat and bad explanations.
The Result
Peter went from embarrassed and confused to confident and in control. He now has a site he can actually update himself, without dreading the WordPress login screen. More importantly, he has a clear, stylish platform that reflects his work and helps him land commissions.
That’s the difference between “just a website” and a business asset.
Ready To Fix Your Website?
If you’re in Brighton and tired of fighting with your website, let’s talk. I’ll help you cut through the noise, pick the right platform, and get a site that works for you — not against you.