26/02/2026
Did you know that not so long ago, we built websites entirely from scratch?
Every element was carefully planned and designed. Then came the manual coding – line by line. It was time-consuming, occasionally frustrating (there were always bugs hiding somewhere), and no matter how pixel-perfect the design was, each screen seemed determined to display it slightly differently.
And yet… it was great fun.
Fast-forward to 2026, and the website I designed for Maren Brown Associates back in 2016 is still live. No templates. No plug-and-play solutions. Just a clear creative vision, patience, and a lot of dedication.
I was lucky to work alongside Paul H., who coded everything with extraordinary care – and saint-like patience. He never complained when I asked him to move something by one pixel so the alignment would be just right. That level of craftsmanship and mutual respect is rare – and invaluable.
And of course, we were equally lucky to have a wonderful client. Working with Maren over the years – including more recently on her new website (built with today’s tools – times do change 😉) – has always been a genuine pleasure.
Because here’s the real thing: great projects are never just about design or code. They’re about people.
They’re about clients who are deeply engaged in their work and trust you with their vision. Colleagues who care as much about the details as you do. Conversations where ideas evolve, sharpen, and improve because everyone at the table is invested.
When you “click” with the people you work with, something shifts. The process becomes collaborative rather than transactional. Standards rise. Energy builds. The end result carries that shared commitment within it.
And that’s a rare, precious thing.
Not every project unfolds that way. Sometimes I’ve worked with people who didn’t care as deeply as I did. Other times, I’ve caught myself wanting to simply get a project over the line. That’s human – you can’t bring the same level of intensity and emotional investment to everything you do.
Which is exactly why those moments when everything aligns – the client, the colleague, the purpose, the timing – feel so special. When everyone is equally engaged, equally committed, equally invested in getting it right… the work carries a different weight. And you feel it.
Looking back at that 2016 website still standing strong reminds me that good design lasts – but good collaboration lasts even longer. I’m grateful for the teams, the clients, and the shared pursuit of getting things exactly right.
