Custom Design
Designed around your business, customers and brand.
Websites
Websites that work harder
Your website is often the first place a customer checks before they get in touch.
I design and build custom websites around your business, with clear information, an easy path to enquire and a design that gives people confidence they are in the right place.
Built for
Your Customers
A good website should make it easy for people to understand what you do, find the information they need and know what to do next.
Every project starts with discovery. We look at your business, your customers, the questions they are likely to have and what you want the website to achieve. From there, I plan the pages, write or shape the content and design the site around that.
The end result is a website that looks professional, works properly across different screen sizes and gives customers a clear path to enquire, book or get in touch.
For WordPress websites, I can set up simple admin areas for the content you want to manage yourself, without needing to edit the live page. I will also provide a short how-to video so you can easily refer back to the steps when needed.
What is
Included
Every website includes the essentials below, planned around your business and checked before launch.
Responsive Build
Designed and tested across desktop, tablet and mobile.
Content Support
Copywriting, or editing and shaping content you provide.
Enquiry Forms
Contact and enquiry forms with spam protection.
SEO Foundations
Page structure, titles, descriptions, indexing and basic schema.
Performance
Images and website assets optimised for a faster site.
Accessibility
Accessibility considered throughout the design and build.
Test & Launch
Forms, links and key functionality checked before going live.
How it Comes Together
Once the scope is approved, the project moves through four clear stages. You will know what is happening along the way and have the chance to review everything before the website goes live.
01
DISCOVER
Talk through your business, customers, goals and content.
02
PLAN & WRITE
Map the pages and write or shape the content.
03
DESIGN & BUILD
Design and build the site, with reviews throughout.
04
LAUNCH
Final checks, handover and launch when approved.
Looked After After Launch
WordPress websites stay on a Website Care plan so the technical side of the site continues to be looked after.
It covers the premium software licences used on your site, backups, updates, security checks and form testing. Small changes are billed as you need them, or Website Care Plus includes up to 60 minutes of changes each month.
Your first 60 days of Website Care are on us. As a thank you for trusting Design Stack Studios with your new website, I will look after the updates, backups, security and technical maintenance for the first 60 days after launch, at no extra cost.
Seen in
Action
Carpet Medic needed its first proper website to bring its cleaning and pest control services together, explain what it offers and make it easier for customers across multiple service areas to get in touch.
The WordPress site was built around the way the business operates, with dedicated service content, clear enquiry paths, before-and-after results and the SEO foundations needed for a growing local service business.
FAQs
Got a question about websites, AI assistants, graphic design or working with Design Stack Studios?
I have answered some of the most common ones below.
Still have a Question?
Send me a message about your website, AI assistant or design project, and I will get back to you, usually within a couple of business days.
What types of businesses do you work with?
I work mostly with service businesses, including professional services, trades, automotive, beauty and not-for-profits. Industry is rarely the deciding factor. If the project is a good match, I am happy to work with businesses in other areas too.
How do payments work?
Smaller projects generally require a 50% deposit to book the work, with the balance due before final handover or launch. Larger projects can be split into staged payments, and flexible payment options may also be available depending on the project. Your payment schedule will always be clearly set out in your quote before you go ahead.
Do you work with businesses outside Queensland?
Yes. I am based on Bribie Island, but most projects can be handled online, so location is rarely an issue. I work with businesses across Australia and can also work with clients overseas.
How do I get started?
Send me a message through the enquiry form. A rough idea is enough to start. I will review what you need and, if the project needs it, arrange a discovery call before putting together a scope and quote.
How much does a website cost?
Every website is quoted around what it needs to do. The number of pages, content, functionality and any integrations all affect the scope. Once we have talked through your project, I will send you a written quote with the full cost before anything begins.
How long does a website take?
Most business websites take around four to six weeks, although the timeframe depends on the size of the project and how quickly content and feedback come through. We will agree on the expected timeframe before work begins.
Which platform do you build on?
WordPress is my main platform because it gives plenty of flexibility for custom design and websites that may grow over time. I also work with Squarespace where it suits the project better. We will work out the right platform for your website during the planning stage.
Do I need to write my own content?
No. I am happy to write the content for your website. We will start with a discovery form and a conversation about your business, your customers and what you want the website to communicate. From there, I will write and structure the copy for each page, and you will have the chance to review it and give final approval. If you would rather supply the content yourself, I can edit and structure what you provide so it reads well and works properly on the website.
Can I update the website myself?
Yes. For WordPress websites, I can set up easy-to-use admin menu items for the parts of the site you want to manage yourself, so you do not need to dig through the full WordPress dashboard. I will also provide simple how-to videos you can refer back to whenever you need them. If you would rather not make updates yourself, I also offer ongoing website care and support.
Is SEO included?
Yes. Every website includes the foundations for good on-page SEO, including page structure, headings, page titles and descriptions, responsive design, performance and search engine indexing setup. WordPress websites are also set up with professional SEO tools to manage these settings properly. Businesses targeting local customers can add Google Business Profile optimisation and more targeted local visibility work.
How does hosting work?
For WordPress websites, hosting and your domain are ongoing costs separate from the website build. I will recommend a suitable setup for your site and make sure any ongoing costs are clearly outlined in your quote before you go ahead.
What is included in the care plan?
For WordPress websites, the care plan covers the premium software licences used on your site, along with backups, WordPress and plugin updates, security checks and testing that your forms are working properly. Small changes, such as swapping a photo or updating text, are billed at my standard hourly rate. If you expect regular updates, Website Care Plus includes up to 60 minutes of changes each month. Unused time does not carry over, and larger changes such as new pages or features are quoted separately. Hosting is not included.
New WordPress websites include the first 60 days of Website Care at no extra cost, starting from your launch date.
Can you redesign my current website?
Yes. Send me the link and a little about what you would like to change. I will take a look at how the site is built, including the platform and any premium tools or licences already in use. If the existing setup is solid, it may make sense to redesign within it. If the underlying build is difficult to work with, rebuilding can sometimes be more practical than spending time untangling it. I will explain the options and what each involves before you decide how to proceed.
Who owns the website once it is finished?
You do. Once the project is paid in full, the final website design, custom content created for the project and your website data belong to you. You can move the site to another provider if you ever choose to.
Some of the premium software used on the site is provided under Design Stack Studios licences while the site is on an active Website Care plan. If you ever decide to move the site elsewhere, I will let you know which licences need to be replaced in your own name so the software can continue receiving updates and support.
Can I get design work without a website?
Absolutely. Logo design, visual identity and graphic design are all available as standalone services, including brochures, signage, packaging, social media graphics and other marketing material.
What graphic design work do you offer?
I design a range of print and digital material, including brochures, flyers, signage, packaging, social media graphics, ads, website graphics and other marketing pieces. I also offer logo design and visual identity work.
Can you update an existing logo or brand?
Yes. I will first ask who created the original design, what files you have and whether you have the rights to have it changed. If the original vector artwork is available, the logo can often be refined or adapted without starting again. If the files are missing, I will look at what you have and explain what is possible. If the existing artwork cannot be legally or practically altered, a fresh design may be the better option.
What files will I receive with a logo project?
You will receive your finished logo in a range of formats so you have the right version for websites, social media, printing, signage and other everyday uses. This includes high-resolution files for print and scalable vector files that can be enlarged for things like signs or vehicle graphics without losing quality.
If any fonts, stock graphics or other licensed resources are used, I will let you know what is included and whether anything needs its own licence.
Can you design artwork ready for professional printing?
Yes. I can supply print-ready artwork set up to the printer’s specifications, including the correct size, bleed and colour settings where required. I can also work directly with your printer if they need anything specific.
Who owns the logo or design once it is finished?
You do, once the project is paid in full. Ownership of the final approved custom design transfers to you, and you can use it for your business as intended. You will receive the finished files appropriate to the project, whether that is artwork for print, signage, digital use or other applications. My working files stay with me, along with any concepts or design directions that were not chosen. Where a project uses licensed fonts, stock imagery or other third-party assets, those remain subject to their own licence terms.
What does an AI assistant do?
An AI assistant can answer customer questions, collect enquiry details and help guide people towards the next step. Depending on the setup, that might include a quote, booking, follow-up or handing the enquiry over to you with the information already collected.
Can it work on social media too?
Depending on the setup, assistants can also handle conversations coming through channels such as Facebook and Instagram, as well as your website.
What if the AI assistant gives someone the wrong answer?
AI assistants need a good setup, accurate information and clear rules to work well. The more information they have about your business, the better they can respond, which is why the discovery process is important. The assistant can use your website, FAQs and other information we provide during setup.
I will also put clear rules in place that govern what it can and cannot say, and test it thoroughly before it goes live. If it is unsure, it can be instructed not to guess and instead collect the customer’s details. When an enquiry is handed over, you can receive the full conversation and enquiry details by email so you have the context needed to follow up.
How much does an AI assistant cost?
It depends on what you want it to do. A simple assistant that answers questions and collects enquiries is very different from one handling quotes, bookings, follow-ups and other automated workflows. I will scope the setup and ongoing costs before you go ahead.