Website design for Refuge
Refuge is the UK’s largest domestic abuse charity, supporting thousands of women and children every day. They needed a ‘place to go’ for women in crisis — a safe, discreet way for survivors to access help.
Trigger warning: This case study discusses domestic abuse and may be distressing for some readers.
For survivors of domestic abuse, safety and discretion are everything. This case study reveals how thoughtful design can provide a lifeline—secure, hidden, and always accessible. If you are developing products or services for vulnerable people, this project showcases how our trauma informed research processes led to trauma informed designs that empower people without compromising their safety.
The Challenge
Design a new website for Refuge that protects women in crisis, mobilises potential supporters, and capitalises on fundraising opportunities.
Our Approach
Trauma informed research Survivors could safely tell their story, knowing that research activities had been planned to mitigate re-traumatisation.
Discreet functionality Emergency exit, hidden features, and secure navigation built in.
Trusted support Direct links to helplines, resources, and safety planning tools.
A lifeline in a pocket
We delivered a secure, intuitive website that puts help at survivors’ fingertips. Designed with lived experience at its core, the website includes emergency exit features, quick access to support services, and practical tools for safety planning. Its discreet interface ensures users can seek help without fear of detection. This user-centric approach has resulted in a number of survivor-driven, best practice design features which mean women in crisis can quickly and safely access lifesaving support.
It’s been such a great experience working with Reason Digital right from the outset. Their values chime with Refuge’s, and this was one of the reasons we chose to partner with them. It has felt like a true partnership, we have worked as one team to launch this website. We’re really excited about the next phase!
The Impact
Survivors and supporters rated the new look website as easy to navigate and mobile friendly, it makes it easy for visitors to get the information they need, when they need it.
Our new website will make it quicker and easier for women in crisis to find the help and information they need, and for people to learn more about domestic abuse and get involved in supporting Refuge on our mission to end domestic abuse.
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