Vibe-coded websites with custom design: the best of both
Novica TomicWebsite
- Vibe coding means building a website in code with AI tools like Claude and Cursor.
- It makes sites fast to build, and you own the code and content, with hosting and CMS accounts under your control.
- On its own, it tends to produce generic sites with weak messaging and low conversion.
- Pair it with a custom, strategic design and you get the speed plus a site with a better chance to convert.
- Technical SEO, clear content structure and a focused path to enquiry can be built in from day one.
- Use a simple template while you're still testing. Invest in custom design once the site matters.
AI changed how websites get built. You can describe a site to a tool like Claude or Cursor and have working code the same afternoon.
That's a real shift, and we're all in on it. We build every site in code, and AI helps at each step.
But there's a catch. Most vibe-coded sites now look the same. Same hero, same three feature cards, same gradient. Speed is no longer an advantage, because everyone has it. What sets a site apart now is the design and strategy behind it.
What is vibe coding?
Vibe coding means building a website in code by prompting AI tools instead of writing every line by hand. You describe what you want, the AI writes the code, and you refine it by prompting again.
The result is a real website. Real code, in a real repo, deployed to hosting you control. Not a page locked inside a no-code builder.
Tools like Claude and Cursor make the building fast. Frameworks like Astro and Next.js, and hosts like Vercel, make the site fast to load and easy to run.
The problem with vibe coding alone
AI is great at writing code. It's not great at deciding what the code should say or look like. Left alone, it falls back on what it has seen most often.
- Generic templates. The layout follows the most common patterns, so your site looks like hundreds of others.
- Weak messaging. Headlines sound right but say nothing specific about why you win.
- No brand. Colors, type, and imagery are picked by default, not by intent.
- Low conversion. Sections get stacked, but nothing guides a visitor toward a decision.
None of these are code problems. They're design and strategy problems. So the fix isn't to stop vibe coding. It's to give the AI something worth building.
Why vibe coding with custom design wins
Pair a custom, strategic design with an AI-assisted build and you get the best of both.
Speed: launch in weeks, not months
AI handles the repetitive build work, so a full marketing site can go live in about four weeks. The time goes into the decisions that matter, not into hand-coding every section.
You own the code, the repo, and the hosting
No platform lock-in, and no waiting for a builder to support what you need. You own your code and content, with hosting and CMS accounts under your control. Hosting, CMS and AI-tool costs depend on the plans and usage you choose.
A unique design that matches your brand
The design starts from your positioning and your brand, not from a template. Visitors see a company that's clearly yours, on every page.
Performance and SEO / AEO built in from day one
Clean code, fast load times, a proper page structure, and meta tags from the start. The site is built with technical SEO, clear content structure and a focused path to enquiry.
Easy to change later
Need a new section or a copy update? Your team, or an AI tool, can make the change in the codebase using the same design system. No rebuild needed.
It scales with the company
New pages, features, and integrations slot into the same system as you grow. The site keeps up with the company instead of holding it back.
Vibe coding alone vs. with custom design
How we do it at Devolfs
We're two founders, Leonardo and Novica, and we run every project the same way.
- Strategy first. We define your positioning, audience, and messaging before anything gets designed.
- Custom design in Figma. We design the site around your brand, with a design system built for the pages you need now and later.
- Build in code with AI. We build in Astro or Next.js, with AI doing the repetitive work, and host on Vercel.
- Reviewed by people. AI helps at each step, and we review what ships: the code and the design decisions behind it.
You get the speed of AI and the judgment of senior designers. See how it works on our website service page.
When it's the right choice
Vibe coding with custom design is the right fit when your website has a real job to do:
- You're raising, and investors will visit your site.
- You're selling to bigger customers who judge you on first impressions.
- You're launching publicly or entering a new market.
- You want to move off Webflow, Framer, or WordPress and own your stack.
When a simple template is enough
Not every site needs custom design. A template is fine if:
- You're still testing whether anyone wants the product.
- The page is temporary, like a waitlist or an event page.
- Nobody is making a big decision based on it.
Start simple, learn fast, and invest in design once the site starts to matter. (Here's when to redesign your website.)
The bottom line
Vibe coding made websites fast and cheap to build. Custom design gives them a better chance to convert. Together, you get a site that ships in weeks, looks like your brand, and belongs to you.
Want a vibe-coded site with a design that's yours? Book a call with Leo.
FAQ
Vibe coding is building a website or software by describing what you want to an AI tool, like Claude or Cursor, which writes the code. You refine it by prompting again. The result is real code that you own.
No. The code can be solid. The weak point is usually design and strategy: generic layouts, vague messaging, and no clear path to action. Pair vibe coding with a custom design and that gap closes.
Yes, if it's built on clean foundations: fast load times, a clear page structure, and proper meta tags. We build the site with technical SEO, clear content structure and a focused path to enquiry from day one. Rankings still depend on your content and your competition.
Yes, when it's built in code. The code lives in your repo and runs on hosting you control, like Vercel. There's no platform lock-in. You own your code and content, with hosting and CMS accounts under your control. Hosting, CMS and AI-tool costs depend on the plans and usage you choose.
Yes. Launch with something simple while you validate, then move to a custom design once the site has a bigger job to do. Read more on when to redesign your website.
About four weeks for most marketing sites. Strategy and design take most of that time, and AI speeds up the build. At Devolfs, Leonardo and Novica review what ships before launch.
Have more questions? Reach out to us, we'll be happy to help.
Available for Q4
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Leonardo, founder