What Is Vibe Coding and How to Discuss It with Clients
The conversation around AI and web design has largely been framed as a threat. However, I’ve found that it’s more useful to think of it as a shift in what clients expect you to bring to the table.
Vibe coding is a way of creating code using everyday language to tell AI tools what you want them to do. This approach gained traction in 2025 and was even named the Word of the Year by Collins Dictionary.
Your clients are learning about vibe coding, and some may be wondering if they can use it to build their own website without a professional’s support. The idea of creating a website using natural language prompts is certainly appealing, and it’s no surprise that people are curious.
While AI can get the ball rolling, transforming its output into a top-notch, tailored business tool still requires a skilled professional. Designers who view AI as a partner in the creative process, rather than a rival, will be the ones to reap the greatest benefits.
Validate the excitement, then ask better questions
When a client brings up vibe coding, don’t dismiss it right away. AI-generated websites can be impressive at first sight, and acknowledging their appeal can help establish trust. The conversation really starts to flow when you ask questions that might not have crossed their mind yet. For example, can a site created by AI truly convert visitors into paying customers? Does it align with a solid brand strategy? Consider who will be responsible for keeping it updated and fresh six months from now.
By digging into these questions, you can help your client think more critically about their website and what they want to achieve with it. It’s not about having a sharp-looking site alone but about creating a digital presence that resonates with their target audience and drives real results.
These are the gaps that appear in every fully AI-generated website currently: generic layouts, shallow copy, no conversion thinking, no accessibility considerations, and no long-term content plan.
Your role in the conversation
Your role in the conversation about vibe coding isn’t about competing with automated prompts. Instead, think of it as a shift from being a pixel pusher to a creative director. You act as a consultant, bringing strategy, user experience (UX) knowledge, and brand positioning to the table. The AI handles repetitive tasks. Ultimately, what sets web designers apart is the ability to make judgments that require deeper understanding and insight.
Treat AI as a sounding board, not a replacement
Vibe coding is a great way to help you generate ideas. Before you open Squarespace, you can use AI to brainstorm site structure and page hierarchy. Test different headline approaches for a landing page. Generate a first draft of page copy, then rewrite it in the client’s brand voice. Prototype a CSS hover effect or JavaScript interaction before committing to the final build.
None of these tasks replace your expertise. They speed up your thought process so you arrive at better decisions faster. The key distinction to make clear to clients is that when you use AI in your workflow, you’re directing it with years of design and platform knowledge. When someone with no design background tries to vibe code an entire business website, they’re handing over every decision to the AI. The outcomes look very different.
Bring it together with Squarespace
Squarespace already has some of these principles built into the platform through the Blueprint AI builder, making it a natural fit for this workflow. The Blueprint AI builder creates a whole website structure using inputs about your client’s business and brand personality. Then, it populates it with images and copy. A tool like the Blueprint AI builder can save significant setup time. When you’re editing the site, you can use Squarespace AI to generate SEO-friendly page copy and image alt text, eliminating repetitive content work. For more on building with these tools, read the guide to starting a website with Blueprint AI.
When you want to go beyond what the AI offers, custom code on Squarespace may be the answer. With Squarespace, you can add your own CSS, HTML, and JavaScript to make a site truly unique with elements like custom hover states, thoughtful animations, and navigation menus that work exactly how you want them to. You can even create section layouts that don’t exist in any template. These are the bespoke details that make a website look professional and polished, and they’re where your skills and expertise truly stand out.
Pro tip: Code is not always necessary or in a project’s scope. Check out my advanced tips for designing Squarespace sites without code.
Make the handoff part of the conversation
When a client is thinking about building a site on their own, what happens after launch is a big consideration. Building a system from scratch using AI coding tools can leave them with code they don’t understand and infrastructure they can’t manage. Every update means going back to the AI tool or paying a developer.
When you present your services for custom-built websites on Squarespace, it’s a completely different story from handing them a complex AI-generated codebase they may never grasp. Once the site is live, Squarespace’s intuitive drag-and-drop editor empowers your client to manage their own content, update pages, and make changes without touching a line of code. They don’t need to know how to code, or vibe code, to run day-to-day business operations. It’s important to highlight this contrast when you’re speaking about your work. You’re not only building a website; you’re giving your clients the tools and confidence to take control of their online presence when the project is complete.
Unlock human creativity with AI
Vibe coding isn’t a threat to web designers—it’s changing where the value sits. The actual building of a website gets done faster, so clients don’t want to pay as much for that part. But they’re happy to pay for the thinking behind it—the strategy, the brand decisions, the conversion planning, and the long-term content architecture. That’s consultant-level work, and that’s where you should position yourself. Embrace AI tools to speed up your workflow, and keep selling the strategic value that only you can bring to the table. For more on how pros are thinking about AI, check out the State of the Web Design Industry report.
Want more?
Check out Squarespace Circle, Squarespace’s program for professional designers and web design agencies. Along with exclusive content, discounts, and other perks, Circle brings professionals together from across the globe to exchange advice while connecting with new clients and collaborators.
