Website Consolidation & Design-Led Digital Platform for a Homelessness Charity

The Challenge

Ethos is a Herefordshire-based charity dedicated to tackling homelessness by addressing its underlying causes and providing holistic support to people experiencing housing insecurity.

The organisation previously operated across two separate websites, which created fragmentation in how the charity’s services, mission and information were presented online. This made it harder for visitors, supporters and individuals seeking help to understand the full scope of the organisation’s work.

The charity required a new website that would:

• Consolidate two websites into a single digital platform
• Clearly communicate the charity’s mission and services
• Provide a sensitive and respectful design approach suitable for the subject matter
• Improve usability for visitors seeking support or information
• Ensure the platform was easy for the team to manage internally

Given the nature of the organisation’s work, the design and messaging required careful consideration to ensure it remained empathetic, supportive and respectful.

Our Approach

We designed and developed a new website using WordPress and Elementor, creating a flexible platform that allows the Ethos team to manage content easily while presenting their work clearly to the community.

The project focused on both digital consolidation and thoughtful design, ensuring the platform reflected the organisation’s values and purpose.

Website Consolidation

The first step was bringing the two existing websites together into a single unified platform.

This involved:

• restructuring the website architecture
• consolidating key content and services
• ensuring clear navigation for visitors
• preserving important information during the migration

The result is a single digital hub that represents the charity more effectively.

Sensitive, Illustration-Led Design

Because Ethos supports individuals experiencing homelessness, it was important that the website design avoided imagery that could feel intrusive or exploitative.

Instead of relying on photography, the website uses illustrations and graphic elements to communicate themes of support, care and community.

This approach creates a more respectful visual language while still delivering a clear and engaging user experience.

WordPress Platform & Content Management

The website was built using WordPress with Elementor, giving the Ethos team a flexible and manageable platform for ongoing updates.

This enables the organisation to:

• update content easily
• communicate initiatives and projects
• share information about services and support
• manage the website without complex development requirements

The platform provides a stable digital foundation for the charity’s future communications.

Impact

The new Ethos website now provides:

• A single, unified digital presence for the organisation
• A sensitive design approach aligned with the charity’s mission
• Clear communication of services and support
• A flexible platform for future growth and updates
• An improved experience for visitors seeking information or help

The project helped strengthen the organisation’s ability to communicate its work and support the community more effectively.

What This Demonstrates

This project highlights The DM Lab’s ability to:

• Deliver sensitive digital design for charities and community organisations
• Consolidate multiple websites into a unified platform
• Develop WordPress websites that are easy for internal teams to manage
• Use illustration and visual design to communicate complex social issues respectfully
• Support mission-driven organisations with thoughtful digital infrastructure