We build what
your business needs.
We design and build websites, online stores and apps. Then we look after them, because that is where most of the real work happens.
A design and development studio in Melbourne. We build websites and apps that fit the business they are for.
Why we work this way
Most websites are built for launch day.
We build ours for the years after.
The studio
Design and code,
one team.
Riksi is a design and development studio in Melbourne. We work with custom WordPress, Shopify, Sanity, web apps and mobile apps. It sounds like a lot, but it is really one job: learn how a business works, then build software that fits it.
Most sites we are asked to fix were not built badly. They were built in a generic way: a theme that looked close enough, then one plugin after another. We work the other way round. We plan the structure first, so your team can edit what they need, and we keep the code simple enough for anyone to maintain.
- Custom WordPress and WooCommerce
- Shopify themes and apps
- Sanity and headless content
- Web applications and native mobile apps
- 20+ years building for the web
- 100s of websites, plugins and web apps built
The founder
Twenty years
of building the web.
Nick Haghighi Senior full-stack developer & founder
Riksi was started by Nick Haghighi, a senior full-stack developer. He has been building for the web for more than twenty years. He has seen every big change in how websites are made, and he knows which choices still work years later.
In that time he has built hundreds of websites, plugins and web apps. These include custom WordPress themes and plugins, Magento and Shopify stores, and PHP and Laravel apps. He has also connected them to the other systems a business uses.
That experience shapes how the studio works. Our advice is based on what lasts. Our code is written so the next developer can pick it up easily.
How we work
Six things
we always do.
These are the things we will talk to you about during a project, so we put them here first.
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You own your site
We build custom themes and code that you control. We don’t force a page builder to do things it was not made for. Fewer moving parts means a faster site and a safer one.
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Speed matters
A slow page loses customers. We plan for speed from the first day, and we test it against Google’s Core Web Vitals before launch.
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Your team edits the site
Pages are made from clear sections with simple fields. If you need a developer to change a headline or move a section, we built it wrong.
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Easy to hand over
Our code is clear, standard and documented, so any good developer can work on it. We want you to stay because the work is good, not because you are stuck.
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Launch is not the end
Platforms keep changing. Shopify, Google and WordPress all change how things work. Regular updates keep your site working well, so you don’t need a full rebuild every few years.
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We tell you the truth
Sometimes you don’t need the bigger project. Sometimes the rebuild can wait. Sometimes the real problem is somewhere else. We will tell you, even when it means less work for us.
The process
From first call
to launch.
We follow the same five steps for every project, big or small. The details change. The order stays the same.
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Listen We learn about your business, your customers and what is not working. It is often not what the brief says. -
Draw We plan the structure and design the pages together, and you review them as real pages. -
Build Clean, hand-written code, a sensible setup behind it, and an editor your team can use. -
Test We test on real phones and computers, with real content. We check speed and accessibility before launch. -
Ship We move your content, set up redirects and analytics, and train your team. Then we stay to keep it up to date.
What we do
Nine services,
one studio.
Each service has its own page with more detail. Start with the one closest to your problem.
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01
Custom WordPress
Custom themes and plugins that fit how your business works. Fast, secure, and easy for your team to use.
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02
Site Updates & New Features
We update old WordPress and Shopify sites, fix security holes and add new features, like bookings and SMS reminders.
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03
SEO & AI Search
Technical SEO built into your site, so Google can find you. We also help AI tools like ChatGPT and Perplexity read and quote your pages.
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04
Web Accessibility
We check and fix your site so everyone can use it, including people with disabilities. We test against WCAG 2.2 AA.
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05
Shopify Custom Themes
Custom Shopify themes that show your products well and match your brand. Built on Shopify’s latest theme system.
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06
Shopify Apps & Plugins
Custom Shopify apps for the jobs that ready-made apps can’t do, and links to the systems you already use.
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07
Sanity & Headless CMS
Your content in one place with Sanity, sent to your website, your app and anywhere else. Easy for your team to edit.
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08
Web Applications
Custom web apps like portals, dashboards, booking systems and internal tools. Built around how you work.
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09
Custom Mobile Apps
Custom apps for iPhone and Android that feel fast and natural. We take them all the way to the App Store and Google Play.
Working with us
Before you get in touch
With a chat about your problem. We ask how your business works now, what is not working, and what a good result looks like. Then we come back with a plan and a price you can respond to.
Often, yes. Sometimes it is better to improve what you have than to rebuild it. We will tell you which, even when it is the smaller job.
You do. We build on standard, documented tools, so the site is yours to keep, change or move.
Yes. Platforms keep changing, so we offer regular care: updates, checks and small improvements. That keeps your site current, so it does not slowly get old.
Melbourne, Australia. You can contact us from anywhere, and we will talk about how we can work together.
Get in touch
Tell us what is not working.
Tell us about the problem. We will tell you what we would do, even if it means less work for us.