Willow Legal Resource

Project Overview

Willow.org.au represents everything we believe web design should be: purposeful, accessible, and planet-conscious. Commissioned by Women's Legal Service NSW, this isn't just a website—it's a digital lifeline for women facing their most vulnerable moments.

When crisis strikes, every second matters. Every gram of data counts. Every design decision can mean the difference between safety and danger. This project challenged us to create something that serves both people and planet with equal dedication.

The Critical Challenge

Designing for crisis situations requires understanding circumstances most of us never face:

Shared or monitored devices: Women often access help using partners' phones or public computers
Limited privacy and time: Browsing must be quick, discreet, and leave no digital footprint
Slow rural connections: Many users in regional NSW rely on patchy 3G networks
High-stress decision making: Cognitive load must be minimal when every choice feels overwhelming
Varied digital literacy: Interface must work for users with limited tech experience
Trauma-responsive needs: Design must feel safe, not overwhelming or triggering

Our Human-Centred Approach

Working directly with Women's Legal Service NSW and survivors themselves, we built something unprecedented: a crisis-responsive website that puts user safety above everything else.

Trauma-Aware Interface Design

Every pixel considered through the lens of psychological safety. Soft colour palettes inspired by the willow tree's resilience, clear visual hierarchy that reduces cognitive load, and calming interactions that never feel rushed or aggressive.

Safe Exit Technology

Custom-built panic buttons that instantly redirect to weather websites whilst automatically clearing browser history, cookies, and cached data. One click removes all evidence of the visit—because digital safety is physical safety.

Ultra-Lightweight Architecture

Stripped back to absolute essentials: no unnecessary scripts, optimised images, minimal HTTP requests. The result? Lightning-fast loads even on poor connections and older devices.

Mobile-First Crisis Design

Built for the reality that most vulnerable users access help via mobile devices, often in compromised situations. Touch targets sized for stressed, shaking hands. Critical information prioritised above the fold.

Sustainability Leadership

Willow proves that doing good doesn't require environmental compromise:

0.46g CO₂ per page view—cleaner than 50% of websites globally
Optimised asset delivery reducing bandwidth by 78% compared to sector average
Minimal server resources through efficient caching and compression
Reduced digital waste with purposeful feature selection

Measurable Impact

Sub-2 second load times on 3G connections across rural NSW
Zero security breaches of user data or browsing history
98% accessibility score meeting WCAG 2.1 AA standards
0.46g CO₂ emissions per page view—among cleanest sites globally
40% faster than comparable legal resource websites
Universal device compatibility from 2015 smartphones to latest tablets

Conclusion

Willow represents the future of advocacy web design: technology that serves the most vulnerable whilst protecting our shared environment. It demonstrates that crisis resources can be both life-saving and planet-conscious—where human dignity and planetary health aren't competing priorities.