Not at all. You don't need any prior coding knowledge to follow along. The curriculum is built for beginners and walks you through every concept step by step. Most of our students started with zero experience and now confidently call themselves designer-developers. You also get personalized support along the way, so if you need more guidance on any topic, you're not figuring it out alone. And while you're building your skills, the code toolkit gives you snippets you can use on client projects right away, with a clear understanding of why they work.

Coding isn't the only path to premium pricing. Any skill you go deep on can get you there. But if you're drawn to the idea of building exactly what you envision instead of working around platform limits, learning CSS and JavaScript gives you a creative edge that clients will pay more for

It's completely possible to design custom websites without code. But for your own site and for custom projects, you'll find fewer limitations when you understand it. Code doesn't just create interesting layouts—it solves business problems and makes sites more accessible and SEO-friendly. If you're reaching a ceiling in what you can design, this is for you.

I understand how significant this investment feels. That's why this isn't just a course with videos you watch once. Alongside the resources and community, you get a full year of personalized support—you can even add me as a temporary admin on your website so I can walk you through problem-solving on your live site. Anytime you need to troubleshoot, find out if something is possible, or get feedback on a layout, I'm here, usually with a detailed Loom video. You won't feel like just another student.

If you're just starting out, the Foundations tier may be the right fit. You'll get lessons on designing with development in mind, website strategy, mastering the fluid editor, plus the business success unit—client management, pricing, and proposal templates. Community Q&A is included so you can get your questions answered alongside fellow designers. Get more details on the Foundations tier here.

Absolutely! Yes, and we have a dedicated lesson on building Squarespace templates with premium coded components the right way. Everything in our code toolkit can be added to templates you sell, so your layouts feel custom without starting from scratch each time. The templates that stand out in a crowded market are the ones with coded details that look polished but stay easy for customers to update. You'll also get access to our Selling Templates Masterclass, where I walk you through designing, packaging, and marketing your own templates with expert guidance and done-for-you systems and automations to run your shop.

You can be a successful, well-paid designer on any major platform. I built Standout Squarespace because I believe Squarespace is the best option for designers who want to create custom sites and templates. It's the most intuitive interface for clients to edit themselves. It scales well, even for high-traffic sites. And as an all-in-one platform, your clients can have courses, a shop, and invoicing as part of their website.

The market has a lot of identical AI-generated sites that are hard for clients to maintain and don't perform well in search. AI can write code, but the outcomes aren't always reliable, and most clients can't or don't want to maintain it themselves. Hiring a designer means their website works from the start. In Standout Squarespace, we integrate AI-powered tools throughout the curriculum and have ongoing discussions on using AI responsibly as a tool that enhances your process, not one that replaces you.

You could, but the value of Standout Squarespace goes beyond a code library. You learn the foundations so your strategies are strong. You understand the why behind the code so you can troubleshoot confidently. You get skilled at combining techniques so your creativity isn't limited by what AI can generate. AI outcomes are only as good as the questions you ask. Learning the technical foundation helps you ask better questions and spot when AI gets it wrong.

On average, students dedicate about three hours per module. With six modules, that's roughly 18 hours of learning, plus any practice or implementation alongside the course. Some students work through the curriculum in order; others dive into Montage and start using it on client sites right away. There's no single right path.