Web design

Web design from Switzerland: websites that are still standing in ten years.

45+ clients since 2017

I design and build websites that are made for people and that search engines can still make good sense of. Clear in structure, honest in tone, properly looked after. No page-builder sites thrown together that fall apart after two years.

Free consultation See references ↓
01
Scope

What is included.

  • 01

    Concept and structure

    We work out what the site should achieve and for whom. The information architecture, the content and the page structure follow from that, not the other way around.

  • 02

    Design straight in the browser

    You see the real result from the start, not a mockup that looks different later.

  • 03

    Responsive layout

    Mobile-first. Clean on every device, without five different versions to maintain.

  • 04

    A clean foundation

    No tangle of page-builder layers that nobody can maintain after two years. The site stays easy to understand and easy to look after.

  • 05

    SEO basics from day 1

    The key search engine basics are built in: clean headings, accurate descriptions, every page readable by Google. Not bolted on afterwards.

  • 06

    Performance

    Optimised images, Core Web Vitals in the green, fast hosting. On mobile too.

  • 07

    Accessibility

    Operable by keyboard, screen-reader friendly, with enough contrast. Required from 2025 in many sectors.

  • 08

    Hosting and care

    After launch I look after the day-to-day running of the site too. One point of contact, no handover to an outside agency.

02
Process

How we work together.

  1. 01

    First conversation

    Free, 30 to 60 minutes. I listen, ask questions, and you get a sense of how I work.

  2. 02

    Fixed quote

    In writing, with stages, timeframe and price. No surprises later.

  3. 03

    Build in stages

    Concept, design, development, content. After each stage an interim status and sign-off.

  4. 04

    Launch and handover

    Tests, polish, training. After that the site runs and I stay your point of contact.

03
Example projects

From the workshop.

Screenshot Sanigroup GmbH

Sanigroup GmbH

Online-Shop mit 6'000+ Artikeln, bexio-Anbindung, blitzschnelle Suche, Google Shopping und Google Ads. Branding, Hosting und laufende Pflege inklusive.

2022 Brand Shop
Screenshot substrat.ch ag

substrat.ch ag

Moderne Corporate-Website, auf die bestehende Marke abgestimmt, klare Struktur, zurückhaltende Gestaltung.

2022 Webdesign Dev
Screenshot Holzhof

Holzhof

Kompakter Online-Shop mit breitem Informations- und Ratgeber-Bereich, verkaufen und erklären auf einer Seite.

2022 Shop Content
See all references
04
Investment

What it roughly costs.

One-pager / small website from CHF 3'500 One page, one clear message. Three to five weeks.
Multi-page website from CHF 7'500 Six to twelve pages, CMS, maintenance. Six to ten weeks.
With special requirements custom Member area, integrations, shop. Fixed quote after a conversation.

I work to a fixed price agreed after a conversation, not to open-ended hourly rates. You know what it costs before we start.

What matters

What makes a good website.

One website, every device

More than half of all visitors now arrive on a phone. A website has to adapt to every screen, with no content cut off and no buttons too small for a thumb.

What looks good on a computer can be unusable on a phone. Mobile-first means I design the smallest screen first, and the larger ones build on that.

A clear structure, not a maze of pages

A good website rests on a structure that has been thought through: which pages are needed, how they link together, and where a visitor should be able to go next.

Clear paths help visitors find their way and help search engines make sense of the content. Fewer pages are often better than more.

05
Why

Why a good website matters.

  • Research happens onlineBefore someone calls or visits, they usually look at the website first. These days it is the first filter, not the final handshake.
  • Speed makes the differenceA sluggish site gets abandoned before it has even finished loading. Performance is not a bonus, it is a basic requirement.
  • Consistency builds trustWhen the fonts, colours and imagery fit together, the business behind them feels more credible. Visitors spot a jarring design faster than you would think.
  • Maintenance is part of the planPlugins age, browsers move on, content goes stale. A website without maintenance holds up for a year or two, then the repairs start. That is why I factor in hosting and maintenance from the outset.
06
Options

Which foundation fits you?

  • WordPress For whom: If you want to keep the content up to date yourself: posts, products, team members, news. Worth noting: WordPress runs on plugins that need regular updates. Without ongoing care the site grows fragile over time, so I keep the number of plugins as low as possible from the start.
  • Astro (lean site) For whom: If you want a very fast site that rarely changes. Worth noting: Content is edited differently than in WordPress. If you need a classic backend with an editing interface, WordPress is the better fit.
  • WooCommerce shop For whom: If you sell products: from a single item to a larger range linked to your accounting (bexio). Worth noting: A shop handles payment and address data and needs ongoing care. Maintenance is a must.
  • Custom built For whom: If you need a specific application that off-the-shelf tools cannot sensibly cover. Worth noting: Higher upfront cost. Maintenance needs someone who knows the system. Only worth it when an off-the-shelf solution really does not fit.
Regions

Local near you.

I work with clients across Switzerland. For a meeting in person, I am closest in these regions.

07
Contact

Talk to me.

The first conversation is free and with no obligation. Send me a few lines about what you have in mind, and I will get back to you within 1 business day with an initial assessment.

Write to me hello@thomasgaechter.ch
Guide

Related in the guide.

08
FAQ

Common questions.

  • What does a website cost?

    A simple website with 3 to 5 pages from CHF 3'500. A mid-sized website with 10 or more pages and several templates, CHF 6'000 to 12'000. More involved projects (custom design, multilingual, special features), CHF 12'000 to 25'000. You get a fixed quote in writing after the first conversation.

  • WordPress or custom built?

    WordPress if you update the content yourself and want a familiar editing interface. A custom solution if speed and long-term stability matter more. I decide per project, not by my favourite tool.

  • How long does a project take?

    A simple site, 4 to 6 weeks. A mid-sized site, 8 to 12 weeks. Larger projects or shops, 3 to 6 months. A lot depends on how quickly content and sign-offs come in.

  • What if I do not have content yet?

    That happens often. We plan the content together during the concept phase, then you write it or I do (with your input). If needed I bring in a copywriter. For images, we can either license them or have them photographed.

  • Is the logo included too?

    Not as standard in a web design project. I design and develop logos separately, as a project of their own (from CHF 1'500), or I refer you to a designer. If you already have a logo, we build the design around it.

  • What about copy and images?

    Copy: I write or edit it as part of the project. Images: stock or a professional shoot, depending on budget. Both can be costed separately.

  • Is the site finished after launch?

    Technically yes, in practice never. Websites need updates, fresh content, the odd correction. For that I offer maintenance plans or hourly packages, both optional.

  • What about data protection and GDPR?

    Done properly from the start: privacy policy, legal notice, cookie banner (if needed), GDPR-compliant hosting in the EU. I know both the Swiss requirements (revDSG) and the EU rules.

  • What if my current website was not built by you?

    No problem. We can start fresh, or take over your existing site and improve it. I migrate from the common platforms (older WordPress, Wix, Jimdo, Squarespace).

  • Are the pages optimised for mobile?

    Of course. Over 60 percent of visitors arrive on a smartphone or tablet. I design mobile-first and test on real devices, not just in a browser emulator.

  • Who hosts the site?

    If you like, I do, on my Hetzner server in Falkenstein (Germany), with OpenLiteSpeed, daily backups and Let's Encrypt SSL. If you already have hosting (Hostpoint, Cyon, Infomaniak and the like), I work with that.

  • What sets you apart from an agency?

    With me you deal directly with the person who does the actual building. Shorter lines of communication, less friction, no account manager in between. The trade-off: no 24/7 hotline and no ten specialists working in parallel.