Designing a website from scratch for survivors of sexual assault.
Designing a website from scratch for survivors of sexual assault.
Coversa had no website. I designed their first website, building trust and safety into every decision, from the IA to the exit button.
Trauma informed
Non profit
Word Press
Trauma informed
0->1
Role
UX/UI Designer
WordPress Front-end
Year
2022
Team
Me
CEO
My Impact
Trauma-informed Design
0→1 Website
Role
UX/UI Designer
WordPress Front-end
Year
2022
Team
Me
CEO
My Impact
Trauma-informed Design
0→1 Website
Overview
Coversa had no digital presence, survivors and medical professionals had no way to find them, understand their services, or reach out safely.
Coversa had no digital presence, survivors and medical professionals had no way to find them, understand their services, or reach out safely.
Coversa provides immediate, compassionate forensic medical services to sexual assault survivors through SANE nurse programs. Without a website, the organization was invisible to the people who needed them most. I designed and built their website from scratch, creating a safe, trust-building experience for survivors, a clear pathway for SANE nurse recruitment, and a donation channel for supporters.
Coversa provides immediate, compassionate forensic medical services to sexual assault survivors through SANE nurse programs. Without a website, the organization was invisible to the people who needed them most. I designed and built their website from scratch, creating a safe, trust-building experience for survivors, a clear pathway for SANE nurse recruitment, and a donation channel for supporters.
My Role
My Role
I was the sole designer on this project, responsible for the full design process, from understanding Coversa's mission and users to designing every page and implementing the front-end in WordPress. I collaborated directly with the CEO to align on content, tone, and organizational priorities.
I was the sole designer on this project, responsible for the full design process, from understanding Coversa's mission and users to designing every page and implementing the front-end in WordPress. I collaborated directly with the CEO to align on content, tone, and organizational priorities.
Problem
The Website Wasn't Converting Visitors Into Supporters Or Driving Product Sale Overwhelming Homepage With Competing Focus Areas
The Website Wasn't Converting Visitors Into Supporters Or Driving Product Sale Overwhelming Homepage With Competing Focus Areas
Coversa's users aren't casual visitors. They're survivors seeking help, medical professionals considering a career in forensic nursing, and supporters looking to donate or get involved. Each user arrives with a different emotional state, and the design had to serve all of them without making any of them feel unsafe, judged, or overwhelmed.
Coversa's users aren't casual visitors. They're survivors seeking help, medical professionals considering a career in forensic nursing, and supporters looking to donate or get involved. Each user arrives with a different emotional state, and the design had to serve all of them without making any of them feel unsafe, judged, or overwhelmed.
no existing site to reference
no brand system
no established content
Starting from zero meant no patterns to follow, no user data to learn from, and no baseline to improve on.
no brand system
No colors, typography, or visual language existed. Every design decision had to establish the brand while serving a sensitive audience.
Starting from zero meant no patterns to follow, no user data to learn from, and no baseline to improve on.
Content strategy, page structure, and copy all had to be built alongside the design, not handed to me.
no established content
Content strategy, page structure, and copy all had to be built alongside the design, not handed to me.
The core design question wasn't " how do we present information? ", it was "how do we make someone feel safe enough to stay on the page?"
Competitive Audit
Competitive Audit
Analyzing the nonprofit landscape for sexual assault support.
Analyzing the nonprofit landscape for sexual assault support.
I looked at RAINN and NSVRC; two of the most established organizations in this space to understand how they communicate with survivors, how they structure support pathways, and where their digital experiences fall short for the most vulnerable users.
I looked at RAINN and NSVRC; two of the most established organizations in this space to understand how they communicate with survivors, how they structure support pathways, and where their digital experiences fall short for the most vulnerable users.
Competitor
Key Strengths
Accessibility & UX Gaps
RAINN
Prominent hotline number on every page, help is always one click away. Strong use of survivor stories to build emotional trust and reduce isolation. Mobile-first, responsive design across the full site. Bilingual support in English and Spanish.
Dense navigation with multiple competing sections makes it hard to know where to start. Information-heavy pages can feel overwhelming for a survivor in crisis. No visible exit site button for at-risk users who need to leave quickly. Hotline entry requires multiple clicks before reaching support.
Dense navigation with multiple competing sections makes it hard to know where to start. Information-heavy pages can feel overwhelming for a survivor in crisis. No visible exit site button for at-risk users who need to leave quickly. Hotline entry requires multiple clicks before reaching support.
NSVRC
Clear, well-organized resource library with strong categorization. Excellent use of data and statistics to build credibility. Annual awareness campaign content is well presented and shareable. Good use of white space on key pages.
Clear, well-organized resource library with strong categorization. Excellent use of data and statistics to build credibility. Annual awareness campaign content is well presented and shareable. Good use of white space on key pages.
Primarily resource-focused — not designed for someone in immediate crisis. Limited emotional warmth in tone — reads more institutional than supportive. No safety exit feature. Mobile experience is functional but not optimized for someone navigating under stress. CTAs are generic and don't differentiate between survivors, supporters, and professionals.
Primarily resource-focused — not designed for someone in immediate crisis. Limited emotional warmth in tone — reads more institutional than supportive. No safety exit feature. Mobile experience is functional but not optimized for someone navigating under stress. CTAs are generic and don't differentiate between survivors, supporters, and professionals.
Website images of RAINN and NSVRC.
Website images of RAINN and NSVRC.
Both organizations have institutional credibility but neither prioritizes the emotional safety of a survivor actively in crisis. No exit button, no trauma-informed tone calibration, and no clear distinction between "I need help right now" and "I want to learn more." These gaps directly informed Coversa's design — particularly the persistent exit button, the calm language on every page, and the clear separation of user journeys by need.
Outcome
Five pages, each designed for a different emotional moment.
Homepage
Clear structure for trust and navigation
I kept the interface minimal and easy to scan, calm spacing, emotionally supportive language, and a single clear message: "You are not alone." Critical contact information and safety features were placed consistently on every page. One decision I made specifically for at risk users: a visible "Exit Site" button across all pages. A survivor who needs to quickly leave the page, if someone walks in, if they're not ready, can do so instantly without leaving a trace. It's a small element with real protective value.
I kept the interface minimal and easy to scan, calm spacing, emotionally supportive language, and a single clear message: "You are not alone." Critical contact information and safety features were placed consistently on every page. One decision I made specifically for at risk users: a visible "Exit Site" button across all pages. A survivor who needs to quickly leave the page, if someone walks in, if they're not ready, can do so instantly without leaving a trace. It's a small element with real protective value.
Outcome
Five pages, each designed for a different emotional moment.
About us
Humanizing the mission
I designed this page to show not just what Coversa does, but why it exists, the founding story, the team, the values. For a user deciding whether to trust this organization with something deeply personal, understanding the people behind it matters. Value statements, team photos, and the organization's history all work together to build credibility before asking anything of the visitor.
About us
Humanizing the mission
I designed this page to show not just what Coversa does, but why it exists, the founding story, the team, the values. For a user deciding whether to trust this organization with something deeply personal, understanding the people behind it matters. Value statements, team photos, and the organization's history all work together to build credibility before asking anything of the visitor.
SANE Services page
Clarifying services for professionals and survivors
This page had two distinct audiences, survivors wanting to understand what a forensic exam involves, and medical professionals considering becoming a SANE nurse. I structured it to serve both without making either feel like an afterthought. Realistic expectations, compassionate tone, and clear information about certifications and hospital partnerships give each user what they came for.
This page had two distinct audiences, survivors wanting to understand what a forensic exam involves, and medical professionals considering becoming a SANE nurse. I structured it to serve both without making either feel like an afterthought. Realistic expectations, compassionate tone, and clear information about certifications and hospital partnerships give each user what they came for.
After an assualt page
Offering clear, trauma-informed guidance
This was the most emotionally sensitive page to design. A survivor landing here may be in crisis, the language, structure, and visual tone had to reflect that. I used non-judgmental, empowering language throughout. Emergency contact information is prominent and persistent. One line anchors the page: "You do not have to report the crime to have an exam." That sentence alone removes a barrier many survivors don't know doesn't exist.
This was the most emotionally sensitive page to design. A survivor landing here may be in crisis, the language, structure, and visual tone had to reflect that. I used non-judgmental, empowering language throughout. Emergency contact information is prominent and persistent. One line anchors the page: "You do not have to report the crime to have an exam." That sentence alone removes a barrier many survivors don't know doesn't exist.
SUPPORT AND CONTACT PAGE
Enhanced contact page for easy communication
Unlike typical nonprofits, Coversa doesn't rely on volunteers, donations and SANE nurse recruitment are what sustain the organization. I designed this page to clearly highlight donation opportunities with a strong but respectful CTA, include information about becoming a SANE nurse, and reinforce the organization's values so supporters understand where their contribution goes.
Unlike typical nonprofits, Coversa doesn't rely on volunteers, donations and SANE nurse recruitment are what sustain the organization. I designed this page to clearly highlight donation opportunities with a strong but respectful CTA, include information about becoming a SANE nurse, and reinforce the organization's values so supporters understand where their contribution goes.
Key design decisions
Every choice had a reason beyond aesthetics.
Persistent contact information
A user in crisis shouldn't have to navigate to find help. Contact details stay visible regardless of which page they're on, removing one more barrier between someone who needs support and the organization that provides it.
A user in crisis shouldn't have to navigate to find help. Contact details stay visible regardless of which page they're on, removing one more barrier between someone who needs support and the organization that provides it.
Visible "Exit Site" button
Survivors accessing the site may need to leave instantly, if someone walks in, or if they feel unsafe. A persistent exit button lets them do that without leaving a trace in their browser history. It's a standard pattern in trauma-informed web design and one of the most important accessibility decisions .
Survivors accessing the site may need to leave instantly, if someone walks in, or if they feel unsafe. A persistent exit button lets them do that without leaving a trace in their browser history. It's a standard pattern in trauma-informed web design and one of the most important accessibility decisions .
Non-judgmental, empowering copy on sensitive pages
The language a survivor reads in a vulnerable moment can either reinforce shame or reduce it. Every word on the website was chosen to communicate that the survivor is believed, supported, and in control of their own decisions.
The language a survivor reads in a vulnerable moment can either reinforce shame or reduce it. Every word on the website was chosen to communicate that the survivor is believed, supported, and in control of their own decisions.
Every choice had a reason beyond aesthetics.
Key design decisions
Reflection
What this project taught me about designing for high-stakes situations.
What this project taught me about designing for high-stakes situations.
This was my first project where the emotional safety of the user was as important as the usability of the interface. Learning about SANE services and understanding how they support survivors and first encountering organizations like Coversa made the work feel genuinely meaningful.
This was my first project where the emotional safety of the user was as important as the usability of the interface. Learning about SANE services and understanding how they support survivors and first encountering organizations like Coversa made the work feel genuinely meaningful.
Design decisions have real consequences here : A confusing navigation, an aggressive CTA, or a missing exit button isn't just bad UX, it could cause real harm to someone in a vulnerable state. This project made me more deliberate about every element I place on a screen.
Design decisions have real consequences here : A confusing navigation, an aggressive CTA, or a missing exit button isn't just bad UX, it could cause real harm to someone in a vulnerable state. This project made me more deliberate about every element I place on a screen.
Trauma-informed design is a transferable skill: The principles, calm language, persistent safety features, non-judgmental tone, reducing cognitive load, apply beyond crisis contexts. Any product used by people under stress benefits from this thinking.
Trauma-informed design is a transferable skill: The principles, calm language, persistent safety features, non-judgmental tone, reducing cognitive load, apply beyond crisis contexts. Any product used by people under stress benefits from this thinking.
I had the pleasure of working with Ramya to design our nonprofit website. She was professional, responsive, and brought thoughtful ideas that transformed our site from outdated and disjointed to cohesive, user-friendly, and visually modern.
Her creativity and guidance made a big impact, we’re very pleased with the results.
I had the pleasure of working with Ramya to design our nonprofit website. She was professional, responsive, and brought thoughtful ideas that transformed our site from outdated and disjointed to cohesive, user-friendly, and visually modern.
Her creativity and guidance made a big impact, we’re very pleased with the results.
Katy Turley
Katy Turley