Field Notes
On web design, honestly.
Notes from the studio — what AI changed, what it didn’t, what we ship, what we won’t. Written for Greater Montreal small-business owners shopping for a real website.
Studio transmission log
Wix vs Custom Website: The Real 5-Year Cost (2026)
Wix advertises $16/month. The 5-year math is closer to $1,560 — and that's without the apps you'll end up needing. Here's the honest side-by-side, with a live calculator you can run yourself.
Read transmissionHow to Actually Rank on Google as a Montreal Small Business (2026)
Ranking isn't a black box and it isn't about hacks. It's about doing five specific things — the same five things — that nine in ten Montreal small-business sites skip. Here's the honest playbook.
How AI Is Reshaping Web Design for Montreal Businesses in 2026
The real shift isn't "AI built this site." It's that one experienced developer can now ship what used to take a 6-person agency.
What Does a Custom Website Cost in Montreal? (2026 Honest Pricing)
Most agencies hide their pricing. Wix publishes theirs but charges for every basic feature. Here's what a custom site actually costs in Greater Montreal — and what you should walk away from.
Why Lighthouse 100 Isn't Magic — It's a Deliberate Choice
Most websites score 30–60 on mobile. The ones ranking score 70–90. Hitting 100 is engineering discipline, not wizardry — and honestly, most agencies don't bother.
Templates Are Dying. Here's What's Replacing Them for Small Businesses.
For five years, Wix and Squarespace templates were the answer for cheap small-business websites. They're not anymore — and the reasons should change how you spend your next budget.
5 Signs Your Montreal Small-Business Website Is Hurting You
Most owners with bad websites don't know it. You launched 3 years ago, it looks "fine" to you, and you assume new customers find you via Instagram. Here are 5 signs that's wrong.
From Brief to Launch in 14 Days: Behind a Real AI-Assisted Build
Last month we built a full e-commerce storefront for a Montreal eyewear brand — brief on Monday, live two weeks later. Here's every day of the build, including what AI did and didn't do.
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