Here at The Gate, we’re not the sort of agency that shies away from difficult social issues. That’s why we have recently just completed a brand new website and logo for Edinburgh Women’s Aid (EWA). This vital charity helps 2500 women a year in the Edinburgh area who are suffering from domestic abuse and relies on donations to survive.

EWA has been in existence since 1973, offering help, support and refuge to women in abusive situations. And as those situations can be life-threatening, it was very important to present information clearly. Using a simple intuitive structure and clean design, The Gate was able to do this very effectively on a small budget.

The Gate worked closely with Michele Corcoran of Women’s Aid to understand the challenges we were facing. It was important to debunk some of the myths surrounding domestic violence – namely that women who are abused are only ever subjected to physical violence.

It was also important that we presented information about all aspects of domestic violence and control, including emotional and financial abuse. We designed areas for young people featuring FAQs and helpline links so that they could determine whether they were in abusive situations. Most importantly, a ‘Leave This Website Now’ button was designed so that women in danger could cover their tracks and hide their internet use from abusive partners.

Using this understanding we were able to create a website that was simple, informative and sensitive. As part of the rebrand, we also designed an updated Edinburgh Women’s Aid logo which has been used on a number of materials including compliments slips and business cards.

Michele Corcoran and Edinburgh Women’s Aid were delighted with the results. The Gate is similarly delighted to have made a creative contribution to a charity which makes a real difference to women’s lives in Edinburgh.