Year in Review: What 2025 Really Looked Like
A real look at 2025 through the lens of a Squarespace web designer — projects, lessons, community work, and what strategic growth actually looked like.
2025 asked for focus. Not noise.
At some point this year, something clicked for me.
Not during a big launch, or a planning session, but while watching how busy my clients already were. The kind of busy that doesn’t look dramatic from the outside, but you feel how heavy it is. Laptops open at the kitchen table (well, that's actually me right now…). Notifications buzzing while prepping dinner. So many inspo websites and "how to design a website on Squarespace" tabs permanently open “for later.”
Most of the clients I worked with in 2025 knew they needed a new website. That wasn’t the issue. The issue was how to get there without turning it into another side project that lived on the to-do list forever. They’d outgrown DIY. They wanted something more polished, more unique. But even thinking about a redesign felt like adding one more mental tab to an already crowded browser.
That’s when I started asking myself a different question.
How do I make this easier for them?
Not easier as in rushed, but as in clear, supported, thought through. A process that respects the fact that they’re running a real business, not casually designing an entire website between clients.
If you’re at that stage — aware you need a better website, but stuck on the how — this year-in-review will feel familiar. Like being in the store with a full cart already, realizing you don’t need more. You just need a clear path to checkout.
The promise I renew every year as a Squarespace web designer
No overcomplicating. No selling stress as ambition. Not glorifying burnout like it’s a badge of honor.
My job isn’t just to make websites look good. It’s to remove friction — from decisions, from tech, from that overwhelming anxiety of “I should fix my site… but I don’t even know where to start.”
This year, I leaned fully into my role as a strategic partner, not just a designer who arranges blocks nicely. Strategy first. Always.
If you’re curious what working with me actually feels like, this is it.
Strategy before design saves time and sanity (not just money)
Projects moved faster this year. Not because I rushed, but because we slowed down at the start.
When we clarified assets, goals, and content before touching layout, design decisions became natural. This isn’t just me talking. UX research backs it up.
The Nielsen Norman Group explain that clear information architecture reduces cognitive load and improves usability. Translation: people feel less confused and more confident clicking around.
If your website feels overwhelming, it’s rarely a design problem. It’s a clarity problem.
Designing the Squarespace way makes everything easier
I saw fewer rebuilds this year. Because we designed with Squarespace, not against it.
That meant:
Using layouts and blocks intentionally
Letting the platform do what it does well
Avoiding unnecessary custom complexity that breaks later
Squarespace’s own guides emphasize building within system strengths instead of forcing fragile solutions. They’re right.
Treat Squarespace like the aisle signs in a grocery store — follow them, and you’ll actually get what you came for.
Simpler websites convert better
No surprise here. HubSpot points out that clarity beats creativity when it comes to conversion-focused design. People want to understand what you do and how to work with you. People don't want to spend 2 whole minutes searching for the type of cheese they're holding (JUST CENTER ALIGN IT for god’s sake). No scavenger hunts. No clever copy that hides the point. Just straightforward, intuitive paths that make sense.
That’s not boring. That’s professional.
The projects that performed best in 2025 weren’t the flashiest. They were the clearest.
What the work actually looked like
I worked across industries this year — creative studios, skincare, food, healthcare, e-com, festivals, nonprofits. On paper, very different businesses.
In practice? The same pattern every time. Smart people. Solid offers. Websites that no longer matched where they were.
So instead of reinventing everything, we focused on a few things that matter way more than trends:
Clear structure
Honest messaging
Simple navigation
Design that supports the content instead of competing with it
When you stop trying to impress everyone, websites get easier. And better.
And this is the part where I stop talking (writing) and start showing you what actually worked.
Community, speaking, and showing up beyond client work
La base HEC Montréal workshops
I had the joy of leading 3 practical workshops for La base Entrepreneuriale HEC Montréal, helping local entrepreneurs build or optimize their websites and strengthen their online presence. This partnership gave attendees hands-on guidance and actionable strategies to improve their digital presence.
Masterclass with @e_influence
I also led a French-language masterclass with @e_influence, titled “Optimiser sa présence en ligne”. We talked Squarespace, visual identity, and selling online without overcomplicating everything. Answering live questions (lots of them) is my happy place. Always has been. The replay is still available, which I love. Learning shouldn’t disappear after one Zoom call.
Squarespace Circle Day 2025
Attending Squarespace Circle Day in New York, in person, felt grounding. It’s easy to work alone behind a screen and forget there’s a whole village of designers building thoughtful, sustainable businesses.
Being in the room reminded me that this work can grow without losing its soul.
BEM Workshop
I hosted Workshop do BEM, titled “Want to launch your own website but don’t know where to start?”: and honestly, it was one of my favourite moments of the year.
Breaking down website basics in a way that didn’t feel intimidating reminded me why I do this. People don’t need more tools. They need clarity.
Giving back
Giving back is part of the business, not a side note. Behind the counter, there’s always more happening than what shows on the shelves.
Since the start of my business, I’ve supported SPCA Montréal, a cause rooted deep in my heart. Animals have always been my soft spot, iykyk.
In 2025, I continued volunteering my skills with community organizations and supporting causes that matter. And as my business grows, I fully intend to expand that support into other areas too. Because success feels hollow if it doesn’t circle back.
What this year reinforced for women building service businesses
Here’s the bigger picture I want you to take with you.
Your website isn’t a someday project.
It’s not a placeholder.
And it’s definitely not something you need to dread.
Your site is often the first place someone decides if they trust you. Not your Instagram. Not your email signature. Your website.
2025 reinforced something I believe deeply:
You don’t need a complicated website to look professional. You need one that reflects where you are now. Not who you were three pivots ago.
If you’ve been avoiding your site because it feels messy or outdated, I get it. I’ve built my entire business around making that feeling go away.
What’s next, and how I can help you get there
As I move into the next year, I’m doubling down on what worked.
Strategic, done-for-you Squarespace websites.
Fewer projects. Better alignment.
More clarity. Less noise.
If you’re ready for a website that feels strategic, intentional, and actually usable, you can explore my services or get in touch to talk it through.
No pressure. No rush. Just clarity.
And if you’re still in the reading and thinking aisle, totally fine. I’ll be right here. Probably reorganizing something that didn’t need reorganizing (I actually am that annoying person that organizes supermarket shelves).
