Directory
Top Squarespace Web Designers and Shopify EXPERTS Directory
Our directory features vetted designers and developers who completed our flagship programs, Standout Squarespace and Standout Shopify.
Colette Smith
Frontend Developer and Designer
Brand Design, Website Tweaks, SEO Strategy, Photography, Squarespace Design and Dev
Woodbridge, Suffolk UK
colette smith
Woodbridge, Suffolk UK
Frontend Developer and Designer
Services
Squarespace Design and Dev, Website Tweaks, Website Tweaks, SEO Strategy, Photography, Brand Design
Course Taken
Standout Squarespace
01
Hi! My name is Colette Smith and I’m a Frontend Developer and Designer based in Woodbridge, Suffolk UK.
02
Outside work you will often find me with headphones on, exploring the latest art exhibitions, taking photos, dabbling in some diy, reading some trashy crime novels, practicing yoga, or just hanging out with my dogs and family. (VIEW)
03
But on a typical workday, I am usually deep in design work or debugging some code! You can often find me tweaking a website's layout, brainstorming solutions with my team, or dreaming up new ideas for a development collaboration—essentially, I'm always busy running my studio.
04
My day usually starts with COFFEEEEE.
05
Most of the time I am working on integrating micro interactions and animations.
“CS_STUDIO is a UK based independent creative studio, founded by Colette in 2018. Her approach is strategic and collaborative, bringing fresh ideas and a contemporary concept to her projects. She holds a software engineering certification, with a specialism in front end development.
Colette studied BA Fine Art at Central St Martins, University of the Arts, London.”
06
What are your first memories of the Internet?
I remember making myself a pure HTML site for my photography portfolio straight out of art school. It was definitely brutalist ... very basic CSS then!
07
What is the best part about the process of building websites for you?
The best part about building websites is the opportunity to create a platform that truly reflects who my clients are and showcases them at their best. It's incredibly rewarding to transform their vision into a functional and aesthetically pleasing online presence that not only meets their needs but also enhances their brand's image.
08
What is your favorite stretch or pastime in between coding?
Cuddling my dogs!
09
How would you describe your Standout Style in 2-3 words? Bold. Masculine. Monochromatic.
10
Share your unique style, your design philosophy and/or aesthetics that appeal to you.
I consider myself a design chameleon. I love studying vintage magazines and books to gather inspo as much as I love seeing what's new on Pinterest. I try my best to combine the best of new and old while providing a safety net depending on the niche my clients are in.
11
Which Standout workshops do you find yourself incorporating most often on your website projects?
STICKY CARDS! I love this feature and I’ve used it a few times, in the sites below. Croftcode →Simulated Aesthetic Scenarios →
12
What makes your work standout?
What makes my work stand out is the unique blend of artistic sensibility and technical expertise that I bring to each project. With a foundation in fine art from Central St. Martins and a specialisation in front-end development, I approach website design not just as a technical challenge, but as an artistic endeavour. This allows me to create bespoke websites that are not only technically robust but also visually compelling and perfectly tailored to each client’s brand and audience.
13
What are the biggest takeaways from the Standout programs?
Some of my biggest takeaways from the Standout programs revolve around maximising the potential of tools like Squarespace to deliver fully customised websites. I've learned to push the boundaries of standard templates by applying unconventional design techniques and advanced coding. This approach allows me to transform basic layouts into unique, tailored web experiences that stand out. It’s taught me the importance of thinking outside the box and adapting tools to meet specific artistic visions and functional demands.
Also the level of support received on the course was unparalleled.
14
What is your dream website project?
I would love to build a beautiful clean website for an architecture firm.
Alyssa Phillips
Web, Brand, and Graphic Designer
Brand Design, Graphic Design, Illustrations, Creative Direction
alyssa phillips
Asheville, NC / USA
Web, Brand, and Graphic Designer, helping passionate small business owners stand out with strategy, intention, and style.
Services
Squarespace Design and Development, Custom Projects
Course Taken
Standout Squarespace
01
Hi! My name is Alyssa Phillips and I’m a Web, Brand, and Graphic Designer, helping passionate small business owners stand out with strategy, intention, and style based in Asheville, NC, USA.
02
Outside work you will often find me cooking, baking, listening to music, or planning a trip somewhere fun.
03
My day usually starts with a cup of mint tea, breakfast, and browsing design inspiration before diving into the day's tasks.
04
Most of the time I am working on highly custom website designs and brand identities to help amazing business owners transform their brands into unforgettable powerhouses.
05
What are the qualities you've developed or hurdles you've overcome?
Over 10 years of working as a graphic designer! Design runs in my blood. I've actually been doing this work since high school! Today, my business is the culmination of my formal design education, agency experience in NYC, and proven track record of happy clients.
06
What are the tasks you do for work?
To create strategic, thoughtful design experiences that feel like the home-sweet-home for my clients' businesses is a task rooted in collaboration and strategy.
07
What do you love about Website Design and Development?
Deeply getting to know the businesses I work with on an intimate level, and translating everything they're about into design that connects with their audience..
08
What are your first memories of the Internet?
Chatting with my friends on MSN messenger and Skype, and logging onto Neopets to play games!
09
What is the best part about the process of building websites for you?
Translating design to code. I am unapologetically hyped when I can see my vision come to life via a language I didn't realize I had the capability to learn.
10
What is your favorite stretch or pastime in between coding? During the workday I admittedly don't take enough breaks as I should! That's something I'm working to get better at. Typically I break to sip tea, pet the cats, and listen to some music. When it's nice out I love ending the workday with a run to get some exercise. On weekends and evenings I try new recipes and sink into travel planning for the next adventure!
11
How would you describe your Standout Style in 2-3 words? Bold. Playful. Vibrant.
12
Share your unique style, your design philosophy and/or aesthetics that appeal to you.
Truly standout design that gets you noticed without relying on trends. Your website shouldn't look like anyone else's because you're not like anyone else. My work leans heavily into your brand values and story to create truly one-of-a-kind design that is completely unique to your business and no one else's.
13
Which Standout workshops do you find yourself incorporating most often on your website projects?
Split section, Sticky sections, Stacked side tabs, Pseudo elements, Custom summary block designs, Fun custom Headers and Footers, Image and icon reveals on hover, Custom buttons, Custom hover effects
14
What makes your work standout?
My bold, eye-catching style based on your business's personality, not based on trends. My conceptual approach that roots design in your brand values and story. By branding lens; I am a well-rounded brand and graphic designer, as well, and cohesiveness across all visual touch points is one of my specialties. My formal design education, years of experience working as a professional designer, and passion for helping small businesses grow.
15
What are some of your proudest works you've worked on?
Caitlyn Burke Website and Branding
Visit Website →Caitlyn Burke is a consultant at Adobe who works with companies’ creative teams to help smooth out their workflow processes. Our collaborative design process began with in-depth brand strategy and brand identity design. Before moving onto the website build, we focused in on her goals, the sitemap, and website content planning to make sure her site strategically helps her work towards those goals.
Caitlyn puts so much personal care and intentionality into her work, and wants her clients to feel excited, energized, and empowered. In her website design, we validated her expertise by showcasing her confidence and professionalism; drew her audience in with fun, bold, and welcoming design; and created a hub for information about her services, background, and event series.
This project was such a fun exercise in design for a mostly text-based website with very few photos. Throughout the site design I used flex box, split and sticky sections, masked images, custom list carousel sections, stacked side tabs and top tabs, custom buttons and hover effects, pseudo elements, custom gallery arrows, and custom header and footer layouts. I learned so much about scoping sections properly in a way that makes it still very easy for the client to edit her site.
16
What are the biggest takeaways from the Standout programs?
Create highly custom website designs that go far beyond a Squarespace template to an incredibly unique branded experience that wows visitors. Using the coding skills learned in Standout Squarespace, I'm proud to be able to build anything I design, all while keeping it incredibly easy to update for the client.
17
What is your dream website project?
Full custom website design and branding for small businesses in these industries: health & wellness, food & beverage, jewelry, gifts, apparel, handmade products, skincare & beauty, small shops & boutiques.
My favorite collaborations are with entrepreneurs who are in a growth phase, and who are passionate and excited about their work and want to work with someone who's as dedicated to their business as they are.
