WEB EXPERIENCE DESIGN

Sites that breathe with your work

You found your way here because something about this site felt different. Maybe it was the pacing. The intentionality. The feeling that someone actually designed this instead of filling a template.

That's what we do.

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For Organizations Who Care About Craft

Respira creates custom web experiences for organizations, educators, and mission-driven businesses who know their work deserves more than a generic website.

We design sites that:

Honor your voice — not a copywriter's idea of what you should sound like
Match your pace — whether that's calm and contemplative or bold and urgent
Serve your goals — conversion, community, credibility, or all three
Feel alive — interactive, thoughtful, designed with attention to every detail

What Makes Respira Different

We Build Custom, Not Template

Our projects are coded from scratch using modern web technologies and AI-assisted development. You get a unique site optimized for performance, SEO, and AI discoverability—not a template with your logo swapped in.

While we can work within existing platforms like Squarespace or WordPress, our preference is custom builds that give you complete control, eliminate monthly platform fees, and unlock possibilities that weren't affordable even a few years ago.

Custom Solutions for Your Business Logic

Need a facilitator directory? A custom booking system? A resource library with specific filters? We build exactly what your business needs—not what a platform allows.

Like the facilitator directory we created for AuraReading.center: designed precisely for their organizational needs, not forced into a template.

We're Designers Who Code

No handoff to developers who don't understand the vision. We design and build in one fluid process, using AI to write clean, modern code. Nothing gets lost in translation.

We Start With Strategy, Not Templates

Before any design work begins, we map your goals, your audience, and the experience you want to create. Then we design something custom that serves all three.

Custom vs. Platform: What's the Difference?

	Platform	Custom Build
Monthly Costs	$30-500/month	✓ $0-20/month*
Own Source Code	✗ No	✓ Yes (GitHub)
AI Optimized	⚠ Limited	✓ Full Control
Custom Features	⚠ Template Only	✓ Anything
Switch Developers	✗ Locked In	✓ Anytime
Performance	⚠ Template-Dependent	✓ Optimized
Design Flexibility	⚠ Theme Constraints	✓ Unlimited

*hosting costs only

Our Services

New Custom Websites

Built from scratch with modern technology, optimized for performance, search engines, and AI readability. Your site, your vision—no compromises.

Bringing Old Sites Back to Life

Your website is outdated, slow, and doesn't reflect who you are anymore. We specialize in complete redesigns that modernize everything: visual design, loading speed, SEO optimization, and AI-friendly structure.

Platform Migrations

Outgrown Squarespace? Need to escape WordPress? We can migrate your content to a modern, custom-built solution that gives you freedom and performance.

Is Your Website Holding You Back?

Bringing old websites back to life is one of our specialties.

Your site worked in 2015. Maybe even 2020. But now it feels dated, loads slowly, and doesn't represent the quality of your current work.

You know you need a redesign, but the thought of starting from scratch feels overwhelming.

Here's what we do:

Complete Visual Modernization

Fresh design that reflects your current brand and audience expectations. No more apologizing for your website.

Performance Optimization

Modern sites load in under 2 seconds. Yours can too. We optimize images, code, and hosting for speed that keeps visitors engaged.

Escape Platform Lock-In

Stop paying $300-500/month to Squarespace Business or WordPress hosting with endless plugin subscriptions. Custom builds mean you own everything—no monthly platform fees eating into your budget.

SEO & AI Discoverability

People don't just Google anymore—they ask ChatGPT, Claude, and Perplexity. We structure your site so AI assistants can understand, reference, and recommend your work when people search.

Common scenarios we handle:

✓ "My site was built in 2010 and looks like it"
✓ "We're on WordPress and it's constantly breaking"
✓ "Our Squarespace template doesn't fit our brand anymore"
✓ "The agency that built our site disappeared"
✓ "We've outgrown our DIY website builder"

If any of these sound familiar, let's talk.

Built for the AI Era

The way people discover websites has fundamentally changed.

They're not just typing into Google anymore. They're asking ChatGPT for recommendations. They're using Claude for research. They're discovering businesses through Perplexity searches.

If AI assistants can't understand your site, you're invisible to a growing percentage of your audience.

We Optimize For AI Discoverability

When someone asks an AI: "Who offers [your service] in [your area]?" or "What's the best [your category]?"—your site should be in the answer.

We structure your content so AI assistants can:

Understand what you do and who you serve
Reference your expertise accurately in conversations
Recommend you when relevant to user queries
Extract key information cleanly (services, pricing, contact)

This isn't about gaming algorithms. It's about making your site readable by the machines that are now answering people's questions.

The Technical Details

• Semantic HTML that machines can parse
• Structured data and schema markup
• Clear information hierarchy
• Content organized for LLM context windows
• Metadata that helps AI assistants categorize your work

Bottom line: We make sure both humans and AIs understand what you do—so you get found in both traditional search and AI-assisted discovery.

Custom Functionality That Serves Your Business

What if your website could do exactly what you need—not just what a platform allows?

Modern web technology and AI-assisted development have made custom features accessible at a fraction of what they cost just a few years ago.

We've built:

Custom facilitator directories (like for AuraReading.center)
Specialized booking and scheduling systems
Resource libraries with custom filters and search
Membership areas with tailored access control
Event calendars that match your workflow
Custom forms and data collection tools

The question isn't "Can we build it?" It's "What does your business actually need?"

Real example:

AuraReading.center needed a way for visitors to find certified facilitators by location, language, and specialty—with each facilitator controlling their own profile. No platform offered this exact functionality. So we built it custom. Now it works exactly as their business needs it to.

The cost difference? Often comparable to 6-12 months of platform subscription fees. But you own it forever, with no recurring costs.

Our Process

Discovery Call

We map where you are, where you want to go, and whether we're the right fit.

Strategy & Structure

We create a sitemap, content strategy, and wireframes. You approve the skeleton before we design the skin.

Design & Build

We design in the browser—so you see the real thing evolving, not just static mockups. If you have existing designs (Figma, Sketch), we bring them to life in code.

Refine & Launch

We iterate based on your feedback, test everything, and launch when it feels right.

Handoff

You receive a private GitHub repository with all source code. We can handle hosting and deployment, or teach you to manage it yourself. Your choice.

What We Expect You to Bring

You know your work better than anyone. We expect you to provide:

Core content and messaging (we'll refine and restructure it)
Brand assets or direction (logo, colors, vibe) or existing design files
Clarity on what success looks like

We handle:

Information architecture and user flow
Visual design and interaction design (or implementation of your designs)
Copywriting refinement (making your words land)
Development and deployment
Training you to manage updates (if needed)

What This Isn't

✗ A template from a marketplace with your colors swapped
✗ A drag-and-drop builder site you could've made yourself
✗ A WordPress theme that looks like everyone else's
✗ A project where we disappear for weeks and resurface with something unrecognizable
✗ Cheap (because craft takes time, and modern technology requires expertise)

What This Is

✓ Custom-coded solutions built with modern web technologies
✓ Complete source code ownership via private GitHub repository
✓ Optimized for AI discoverability (ChatGPT, Claude, Perplexity)
✓ Freedom from monthly platform fees and subscription lock-in
✓ Custom features designed for your specific business needs
✓ Deploy anywhere you want (Vercel, Netlify, your own servers)
✓ An investment in how your organization shows up in the world

Platforms We Work With

We build custom sites using modern web technologies (HTML, CSS, JavaScript) with AI-assisted development for clean, maintainable code.

Our preferred approach:

Custom-coded sites — Maximum control, performance, and flexibility

We can also work with:

Squarespace/WordPress refinement — If you're already invested, we can redesign within the platform
Platform migrations — Moving you from legacy systems to modern solutions
Your existing designs — Bring us Figma or Sketch files and we'll build them

The technology serves your goals. We're not dogmatic about tools—but we are opinionated about quality, speed, and maintainability.

Recent Work

Laura Maria Yara Website - Laura Maria Yara

Live

Personal Website

Laura Maria Yara Website

Laura Maria Yara • 2025

Spiritual healing website integrating Substack, Gumroad, and Circle checkout.

Next.js 15.3.1 React 19.0.0 TypeScript Tailwind CSS 4.1.13 +5 more

View Details

Intelligent Intimacy Website - Maria Høier

Live

Coaching Website

Intelligent Intimacy Website

Maria Høier • 2025

Coaching website for intimacy and relational leadership with Luma and BaseHub integration.

Next.js 15.5.2 React 19.1.0 TypeScript Tailwind CSS 4 +6 more

View Details

Live

Directory Platform

AuraReading.center

Respira • 2025

Directory for Aura Reading facilitators with Fillout integration and multilingual support.

Next.js 14 React 18 TypeScript Tailwind CSS +7 more

View Details

View full portfolio →

Investment

Projects typically range from €5,000 - €25,000 depending on scope, complexity, and custom functionality needs.

Platform Fees

Custom Build

Why custom can be more affordable than you think:

No monthly platform fees ($300-500/month = $3,600-6,000/year)
No plugin subscriptions or marketplace add-ons
No paying for features you don't need
One-time investment vs. recurring costs

Timeline: Most projects take 6-12 weeks from kickoff to launch.

We don't work on hourly rates. We price based on the value created and the scope defined upfront.

Who This Is For

This is for you if:

✓ Your current website doesn't reflect the quality of your work
✓ You've outgrown templates and DIY builders
✓ You want a site that converts visitors into clients or community members
✓ You're willing to invest in craft and collaboration
✓ You want to escape monthly platform fees
✓ You need custom functionality that platforms can't provide

This is not for you if:

✗ You need something in two weeks
✗ You're looking for the cheapest option
✗ You want us to "just make it look pretty" without strategy
✗ You're not ready to actively participate in the process

Let's Talk

If you're ready to create a web experience that actually represents your work, jump on a call.

We'll map your vision, discuss scope, and figure out if we're the right fit.

Jump on a Call

mihai@respira.cafe

FAQ

Do you work with clients outside the wisdom economy?

Yes. While our passion is supporting embodied teachers, we build web experiences for any mission-driven organization that values craft.

Can you redesign my existing site?

Absolutely. Bringing old websites back to life is one of our specialties. We modernize the experience, optimize performance, improve SEO and AI readability, and rebuild using current technology—all while keeping your domain and brand equity intact.

Do you offer ongoing maintenance?

Yes, we offer retainer packages for updates, content management, and technical support. But because you own the source code in GitHub, you're never locked in. You can manage updates yourself, hire another developer, or work with us—whatever makes sense for your situation.

What if I don't have all my content ready?

That's normal. We can help you structure and refine what you have. But you need to provide the core—we're not ghostwriters.

How involved will I need to be?

Very involved during strategy and design phases. Less involved during build. We'll have check-ins every 1-2 weeks, and you'll approve major milestones before we move forward.

You use AI to code—is that reliable?

Yes. AI-assisted development allows us to write clean, modern code faster and with fewer bugs. But the AI doesn't make design decisions—we do. Think of it as having a highly skilled coding assistant who never gets tired. The result is custom, maintainable code that's built to your exact specifications. This is also why custom features that would've cost €50,000 five years ago now cost a fraction of that.

What's the total cost of ownership compared to platforms?

Let's do the math: Squarespace Business costs $432/year. WordPress with premium hosting and plugins costs $500-1,000/year. Over 5 years, that's $2,160-5,000—and you still don't own anything. A custom site has higher upfront costs but zero recurring platform fees. You own the code. After 2-3 years, you're saving money. After 5 years, you've saved thousands.

What do I actually own when the project is done?

Everything. You get a private GitHub repository with all the source code. You can deploy it anywhere—Vercel, Netlify, your own servers. You can modify it yourself or hire anyone else to work on it. We can handle hosting and deployment for you, or we can hand you the keys and walk you through self-deployment. Your choice, your ownership.

Can you work with my existing design?

Yes. If you have Figma or Sketch files, we can implement them. If you have a design system or brand guidelines, we'll honor them. If you need design work, we handle that too.

Ready to begin?

Ready to stop fighting technology and start teaching?

Jump on a call. We'll map where you are, what's draining you, and design the simplest path forward.

No proposals. No hourly rates. No performance. Just honest conversation about whether we're meant to work together.

P.S. The first breath is always the hardest. Let's take it together.

WEB EXPERIENCE DESIGN

Sites that breathe with your work

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Starting Fresh

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