So You Wanna Work with ilovecreatives Studio?

What We Really Look for in a Squarespace Designer (The Good, The Bad, and The Deadline)

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Why We’re Sharing This

At ilovecreatives Studio, we collaborate with Squarespace designers, developers, and the occasional magical “slashie” who can do both.

We get a lot of questions about what it’s actually like to work with us. And instead of keeping it all behind closed doors, we’re sharing exactly what we look for, who we hire, and what makes a great working relationship.

Fun fact: Our Creative Director, Mindy, and our Art Director, Sarah, both started out as students in our ilovecreatives Squarespace course.

“I remember Mindy building her first Squarespace site in our course… now she’s leading the creative vision for the studio.”
“Sarah’s the same — she came up through our community, sharpened her skills, and now she’s our AD.”

That’s why we often hire students. They tend to be naturally curious, love to learn, and push themselves to improve — exactly the mindset that makes a great collaborator.

What We Look for in Designers

1. Creativity

“We love seeing a unique POV or style, especially when people push the limits of Squarespace with custom elements. Little details that show you’re thinking critically about the brand and what makes it unique really stand out to us.” — Mindy

We want to see:

  • Thoughtful brand decisions

  • Custom elements that make the site feel unique

  • Micro-details that elevate the whole experience

2. Systems-Oriented Thinking

“If it’s a brand with a large product offering — like multiple courses, Jess Rona style — we wanna see that you can make it all feel like one umbrella, without everything blending together.” — Mindy

We want you to:

  • Create structure without making everything identical

  • Make it easy for users to navigate large offerings

  • Think about scalability from the start

3. Attention to Detail

“Typography, CTAs, responsiveness — it’s gotta look good on desktop AND mobile, across browsers.” — Mindy

We expect:

  • Consistent typography, buttons, and spacing

  • Pixel-perfect responsive layouts

  • Cross-browser compatibility

The 3 Types of Freelancers We Hire

Designers

  • Build polished sites with range

  • Often have niche expertise (e.g., membership portals, course platforms)

Dev-Only

  • Reliable, detail-oriented, and technically sharp

  • Often work from near-complete designs but can troubleshoot mid-build

Slashies (Designer + Dev)

  • Rare, but invaluable

  • Ideal for projects that need design/dev fluidity

Why We Love Hiring from Our Community

  • Students already understand our workflow and quality standards

  • They value feedback and iteration

  • They’re self-starters who keep improving

“It’s not just about skill. It’s about mindset — curiosity, openness, and the drive to make each project better than the last.” — Mindy

What Makes a Great Working Relationship with Us

Do’s

  • Communicate openly — the good and the bad

  • Be proactive with problem-solving

  • Meet deadlines or flag delays early

  • Give and take feedback constructively

Don’ts

  • Unreliable or ghosting

  • Miss deadlines without communication

  • Negative energy or defensiveness

How to Get Our Attention

Want to stand out? Here’s what actually gets us to click on your email, bookmark your work, and think of you for future projects:

  • Show range in your portfolio — Have at least 2–3 types of websites in there, even if they’re spec projects. Check out our own portfolio to get a sense of the variety we work in — both in design style and industry.

  • Get a portfolio crit — And don’t just do one. Do multiple! Each round of feedback helps you see your work in a new way and close skill gaps.

  • Understand the timing factor — Sometimes it’s truly not you. The projects we have in the pipeline change constantly, and you might be perfect for a job we just don’t have right now. Staying on our radar helps.

Real-World Stories

When it worked:

  • The designer thought about the brand’s entire ecosystem, nailed the small details, and hit deadlines. The result? A site that looked great, worked great, and made the client happy.

When it didn’t:

  • A missed deadline without a heads-up spiraled the project timeline. No matter how good the design was, the trust was gone.

Final Takeaways

  • Creativity + Systems + Detail = Non-negotiables

  • Know your lane (Designer, Dev, Slashie) and own it

  • Communication is just as important as your design skills

  • Students and learners often have an edge because they adapt quickly

  • Getting on our radar is a mix of showing range, seeking feedback, and staying in touch

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