Simple Websites

Simple is a loaded word but it is often used by people to describe the type of site they want. Simple is hard and simple is nuanced. Starting from the simplest possible foundation, any site will need: some branding, a description, and contact details.

From the tech side, one interpretation of simple is for websites that are static. Static sites are inherently fast and secure. They may not include a control panel for site owners to manage their content – though it’s not quite as simple as that…

As an enthusiastic proponent of basic and agile processes, I’ve created an open-source template which you’re welcome to use if you’re comfortable with some code.

Below are projects that include simple sites, but many were superseded later on by sites with a CMS.

website showing examples of fitted furniture and some text.

One page site showing off beautiful and modern bespoke cabinetry
More info on b.cabinetry

Bright pink website for Rinsed hair salon with photos of customer's hair.

Grace colours and cuts hair. When she recently set up on her own, she needed a simple website to show what she does.
More info on Rinsed

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A portfolio website for Peter Salem, an internationally recognised composer for ballet and screens.
More info on Peter Salem

playful blue screen with

Flex is revolutionising how employers find the right candidates and how job seekers can show off what they’re really capable of. They do this with gaming data.
More info on Flex

webpage listing graphic design services.

Quick portfolio site for a regular collaborator.
More info on Sophie Gibson

website showing artist podcast episode. screenshot..

Website and workflow for a podcast about artists and their materials.
More info on Materially Speaking

Homepage of Jim Dixon Tiling with diagonal lines.

A quick project to create the first website for a new tiling business.
More info on Jim Dixon

digital advent calendar with 01-11 revealed and 12-16 hidden.

Microsite for the holidays to accompany Price & Myers rebranding and new website.
More info on Advent for Price & Myers

Screenshot of A Profound Waste of Time website showing two magazine covers.

A Profound Waste of Time is a magazine on video game culture that was initially launched as a Kickstarter campaign.
More info on APWOT

homepage of Stephen Toal with a dark blue background and bit of white type.

​A “business card” site for a PR and marketing consultant. Created primarily to accompany the email address they use.​
More info on Stephen Toal

Screenshot of Lizzie Firbank's white and orange website.

Colourful brochure site created in a half-day for a freelance administrator and personal assistant.
More info on Lizzie Firbank

homepage of Matt Vine with dark background and light type.

A “business card” site for a press relations consultant. Created primarily to accompany the email address they use.
More info on Matt Vines Consulting

homepage of Leonie Stebbing with a white background and bright pink accents.

Static site for a social media and customer service consultant working from Margate.
More info on Leonie Stebbing

Screenshot of photographer Jason Orton's homepage as it appears on a desktop screen.

Portfolio website for a photographer working solely with medium format film.
More info on Jason Orton

Pastel coloured homepage of simple website for Theodore music licensing.

Design and build of a portfolio site to showcase the music they source and license for advertising agencies.
More info on Theodore

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Sometimes it’s useful to have your name as a website.
More info on Ben Edmonds

Zoe Mills homepage with a headshot and some text.

​A single page website for actress and writer Zoe Mills which has replaced an out-dated and uneditable Joomla site.​
More info on Zoe Mills

Desktop screenshot of documentary film series The Makers of Things.

Four film documentary series by director Anne Hollowday about The Society for Model and Experimental Engineers.
More info on The Makers of Things

Screenshot of simple website with text and two images.

Open source website template for a simple site. Static, responsive, fast and no build process.
More info on Simple site

Screenshot of theatre company Word Mills' website.

Four page static site for theatrical production company.
More info on Word Mills

Her name on the page with a neon glow when you hover.
More info on Rosa Harris Edmonds

Screenshot of Elly Wall Ceramics website as it appears on a desktop screen.

Single page site for a ceramicist with navigation links ‘jumping’ visitors down the page.
More info on Elly Wall

Homepage of Clean Bean showing a packaged block of tofu.

A supremely basic site for an organic tofu maker working from a small kitchen in East London.
More info on Clean Bean

Screenshot of journalist Rebecca Armstrong's website.

Single page text-only site for a journalist
More info on Rebecca Armstrong

Homepage of Laura McDermott.

Single page text-only site created in two hours for an arts producer.
More info on Laura McDermott

Screenshot of Lisa Gornick's previous website.

Single page text-only site for an artist and filmmaker.
More info on Lisa Gornick

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Static website created for a classical pianist using embedded Soundcloud players.
More info on Emiko Miura