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Web design± 2 minutes' read

Building websites without a CMS: our approach in practice

More and more of our websites are delivered as handcrafted HTML without a CMS. No WordPress, Joomla or Drupal underneath, but clean code that we design and build ourselves. The result: faster, more secure and more economical sites, without the mandatory updates and maintenance subscriptions that come with a CMS. Here you can read how we go about it.

01Why without a CMS

A CMS, such as WordPress, is a system that lets you manage pages yourself. That is powerful, but it also brings a permanent maintenance burden and more vulnerable spots. For many websites, that is overkill. If we work without a CMS, a large part of that burden disappears.

  • Less vulnerableNo plug-ins or core software that constantly need updating.
  • FasterStatic pages load almost instantly, without a database or server rendering work.
  • GreenerLess computing power per visit means a lower CO₂ footprint.
  • Lower costsNo mandatory update subscriptions or licence fees.
  • TransferableYou get clean code that runs on any server. So you are not tied to one supplier (no vendor lock-in).

02Rich and dynamic all the same

Without a CMS does not mean without possibilities. We build with our own set of building blocks:

  • Light and dark theme
  • Forms with validation and sending
  • Animations
  • Full accessibility in line with WCAG

Where real dynamics are needed, such as a form with payment or a customer portal, we link targeted custom functionality to the static foundation. Exactly where it is needed.

03Who is this suitable for

From one-off campaign sites to complete corporate websites: the approach works for almost every organisation that wants a fast, low-maintenance and sustainable website. Not sure whether a CMS does make sense in your case? We are happy to give you our honest advice.

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