From the studio
Writing on privacy, accessibility, and design for organizations that protect people.
Budget websites feel like savings. They're often the most expensive decision an organization makes. Here's how to think about the real cost of cutting corners on design.
Launch day is the beginning, not the end. Here's what actually needs to happen after your new site goes live—and what gets missed when nobody plans for it.
Google Search Console is free, it's powerful, and most nonprofits have never opened it. Here's a plain-language walkthrough for organizations who want to actually be found.
Most privacy policies are legal disclaimers no one reads. Here's how to write one that actually communicates—and why that matters for the communities you serve.
Third-party donation platforms are full of dark patterns that erode donor trust. Here's what to look for—and what a donation experience built on respect actually looks like.
Cookie banners, newsletter opt-ins, intake forms—most websites collect consent in ways that are technically compliant and genuinely not. Here's what meaningful consent looks like in practice.
Deceptive (or dark) patterns are design tricks that manipulate users into actions they didn't intend. They're rampant in commercial software—and they've crept into the nonprofit sector too.
Well-intentioned language can still be exclusionary. Here's how to audit your site's vocabulary for the people you most need to reach.
Most nonprofit staff writing website copy aren't professional writers—and that's fine. These principles will get you further than you think.
Most About pages lead with the organization's history, founding story, and mission statement. Here's why that's backwards—and what to do instead.
Websites serving survivors carry a level of responsibility that most design decisions don't account for. This post covers the specific ways DV organization websites can inadvertently create risk—and what safer, more thoughtful design looks like.
Pricing for nonprofit web design varies wildly—and the range can be genuinely confusing if you've never gone through the process before. This post breaks down what drives cost, what to watch out for, and how to evaluate whether a quote is fair.
Most organizations don't know what data their website is quietly collecting—through analytics tools, embedded forms, third-party scripts, and more. This post walks you through a practical self-audit you can do without a technical background.
Squarespace is one of the most popular choices for nonprofit websites—but is it the right one? This post covers where it excels, where it falls short, and how to know if it's a good fit for your organization's specific needs.
Intake forms are often the most sensitive point of contact between your organization and the people you serve. This post looks at the most common ways forms create unintended risk—and what thoughtful, privacy-conscious design looks like instead.
WCAG 2.2 introduced nine new criteria—but most explainers are written for developers, not nonprofit leaders. This post breaks down the changes that matter most for human rights and community organizations, in plain language.
Trauma-informed care principles don't stop at your front door. This post explains what trauma-informed web design actually means in practice, and what it looks like when an organization's website reflects those same values.
Most nonprofit leaders assume accessibility laws don't apply to them—or that compliance is too expensive to tackle. Here's what the law actually requires, what courts have been saying, and how to know where your organization stands.
A full redesign isn't always possible—or necessary. There are meaningful accessibility improvements you can make to your existing site right now, without a big budget or a developer on call.
Many organizations collect far more information than they need—often without realizing it. This post walks through the most common examples, the real risks they create for the communities you serve, and how to start reducing your exposure.
Most nonprofit privacy policies are written for lawyers, not the people they serve. Here's what a plain-language alternative looks like — and why it matters for trust.