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Behind the Scenes: My 2025 Web Development Toolkit

As a freelance web designer and developer, I get a lot of questions about how websites are made - and more importantly are they fast? Secure? Easy to update? Good for SEO? So I thought I’d pull back the curtain and share a quick look at the tools I use to build modern websites in 2025.

Don’t worry - this isn’t a deep dive into code. Instead, it’s a simple explanation of the design and development tools I use to make sure your site looks great, performs well, and is easy for you to manage once it’s live.

1. Beautiful Design Starts with the Right Tools

Before a single line of code is written, I start with design. I use:

  • Figma – a collaborative tool that lets me design websites and share interactive mockups with you for feedback. It’s fast, flexible, and makes communication super smooth.

  • Affinity Suite (Designer, Photo, Publisher) – my go-to tools for graphics, photo editing, and layout work. Think of these as a modern, lightweight alternative to Adobe.

What this means for you: A custom, thoughtful design process where you can preview, tweak, and be part of the creative journey from the start.

2. Powerful, Flexible Website Builds

Now to the development side. Here’s the tech stack I use to build your site behind the scenes:

Nuxt.js

This is a modern framework based on Vue.js (a JavaScript library). It helps me build websites that are:

  • Very fast to load

  • SEO-friendly (great for Google rankings)

  • Easy for your visitors to use and navigate

Storyblok

This is a content management system (CMS), but not the old-school kind. Storyblok is a "headless CMS", which means:

  • You can easily edit your content through a simple, visual editor

  • The front-end (what users see) and the back-end (where content is stored) are separate—making your site faster and more secure than a 'traditional' CMS.

Netlify

This is where your site lives once it’s built. Netlify hosts your site in a way that makes it:

  • Extremely fast to load

  • Secure (with free SSL included)

  • Reliable, with automatic backups and version control

What this means for you: A sleek, modern website that performs beautifully and is easy for you to update without needing to call me every time you want to change a headline.

3. Online Stores Built to Convert

If you’re selling online, I also customise Shopify themes with custom sections and layouts for you to use within the admin.

That means your Shopify store isn’t just a copy of someone else’s template. It’s fully designed to match your brand and optimised to make it easy for your customers to browse, shop, and buy.

What this means for you: A unique storefront that looks and feels like your brand.

4. Why This Stack Works

Everything I use—design tools, code frameworks, CMS, and hosting—is selected with three things in mind:

  • Speed – Fast sites keep visitors happy (and help with Google rankings)

  • Simplicity – You don’t need to be a tech expert to use your website

  • Security – Modern secure technologies that prioritise website security

Final Thoughts

My goal is always to build websites that feel effortless—for you and for your users. Whether you need a stunning brochure site or a bespoke online store, the technologies I use help me deliver something that’s not just beautiful, but smart and future-ready.

If you would like to know how this could work for your business, feel free to get in touch!

Author: Pete Murray

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