When hope is on the line, so is a website that’s equal parts welcoming & functional.

The National Domestic Violence Hotline (The Hotline) is the nation’s only 24/7/365 service provider for survivors of relationship abuse and their loved ones via call, digital chat, and text. And they had a big problem: the aging websites kept breaking and were difficult to navigate.

We kicked off the redesign in May, just a couple weeks after I joined, and launched all four sites in September (check out love is respect here). As the sole internal creative, I was responsible for elevating The Hotline’s existing brand + identity and its expression on thehotline.org. Once it became clear the creatives from the external agency needed more hands-on direction, I jumped in to steer the look + feel from start to finish.

These sites had to do more than just look good. Those experiencing abuse often have a very limited amount of time away from their abuser to reach out for help, making site load times critical. There were other essentials to consider, like user experience and accessibility, availability in both English and Spanish, inclusivity, and government grant requirements.

The new sites are easier to navigate thanks to iconography, an expanded color palette, and strong use of typography. Most importantly, they help visitors feel safe, welcome, and empowered.

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