Case Studies

“Design with clarity, purpose, and heart”

Accessibility‑focused graphic design and UI/UX storytelling.

I’m Casey Carver, a graphic designer and UI/UX thinker who creates accessible, narrative‑driven visuals for nonprofits, community organizations, and mission‑focused teams.

🌟 Featured Projects

🌍 CYSD Cameroon — Website Redesign Case Study

Overview

CYSD Cameroon is a nonprofit organization focused on youth development, community empowerment, and sustainable change in Cameroon. They needed a clear, accessible, and emotionally grounded website that communicated their mission, programs, and impact. I designed and built a full WordPress site that blends usability, storytelling, and nonprofit best practices.

The Challenge

CYSD’s previous website lacked:

• Clear navigation
• Consistent branding
• Readable typography
• A structured layout for programs, mission, and contact information
• A donation‑ready, nonprofit‑standard design

They needed a site that felt trustworthy, modern, and aligned with their mission.

My Role

• UX planning and site architecture
• WordPress layout design
• Accessibility‑focused typography and color choices
• Icon integration and visual hierarchy
• Content structuring and narrative flow
• Responsive design for mobile and tablet
• Footer, contact, and program page development

Design Approach

I focused on three core principles:

1. Clarity

Simple navigation, clean sections, and readable typography to help visitors understand CYSD’s mission quickly.

2. Accessibility

High‑contrast colors, structured headings, and mobile‑friendly layouts to ensure the site is usable for all audiences.

3. Storytelling

Each page was designed to highlight CYSD’s real‑world impact through photos, program descriptions, and mission‑aligned messaging.

Final Designs

You can view the live site here: cysdcameroonafrica.wordpress.com.

Key Features

• Homepage with mission statement and program highlights
• Programs Page with structured descriptions and icons
• Donate Page is designed for clarity and trust
• Contact Page with a clean layout and optional map embed
• Footer with social links, legal info, and accessibility considerations
• Responsive design across all devices

Impact

• Improved clarity and professionalism
• Strengthened CYSD’s online presence
• Provided a foundation for future fundraising and outreach
• Created a site aligned with nonprofit standards and user expectations

Reflection

This project allowed me to combine accessibility‑focused design with mission‑driven storytelling. It strengthened my skills in UX structure, nonprofit communication, and WordPress implementation — and it remains one of the projects I’m most proud of.

🟪 Whinny & Mane Horse Sanctuary — Visual Campaign Case Study

Overview

Whinny & Mane Horse Sanctuary needed a set of promotional graphics that captured the heart of their mission: rescuing, training, and rehoming wild horses. My goal was to create a visual campaign that felt warm, trustworthy, and emotionally resonant while staying aligned with nonprofit communication standards.

The Challenge

The sanctuary wanted visuals that:

• Communicated compassion without feeling overly sentimental
• Encouraged donations and support
• Reflected the calm, healing environment they provide
• Maintained consistency across multiple graphics

They needed a cohesive mini‑campaign that could be used on social media, print materials, and their website.

My Role

• Visual direction
• Photo selection and editing
• Typography and layout
• Messaging and copy refinement
• Branding consistency
• Nonprofit‑focused design strategy

Design Approach

I built the campaign around three emotional pillars:

1. Connection

A graphic highlighting the bond between humans and horses, using warm tones and a hopeful message.

2. Sanctuary

A peaceful, nature‑focused design emphasizing safety, rest, and second chances.

3. Daily Care

A quiet, intimate moment inside the stable to show the everyday compassion behind the mission.

Across all three pieces, I used:

• Soft, natural color palette
• Clean, readable typography
• Minimalist layouts to keep the message clear
• High‑quality imagery that evokes trust and empathy

Final Designs

• 1. “Their Journey Begins with Us”
• 2. “A Place to Breathe”
• 3. “Care Lives in the Quiet Moments”

Together, these pieces form a cohesive narrative arc: arrival → healing → daily compassion.

Impact

• Strengthened the sanctuary’s visual identity
• Provided ready‑to‑use promotional materials for fundraising and awareness
• Helped communicate their mission with clarity and emotional depth
• Demonstrated how design can support nonprofit storytelling

Reflection

This project allowed me to combine accessibility‑focused design with narrative‑driven visuals. It reinforced my passion for mission‑aligned work and showcased my ability to create cohesive campaigns that feel human, warm, and purposeful.

🎄Brooksdale Series — Holiday Book Cover Design

Overview

The Brooksdale Series is a pair of cozy holiday romance novels set in a charming small town. I designed full print book jackets for both titles, blending festive aesthetics with emotional storytelling. Each cover evokes warmth, nostalgia, and genre familiarity, while maintaining clarity and professional polish.

The Challenge

The author needed covers that:

• Captured the tone of each story (homecoming, first love, personal growth)
• Appealed to young adult and women’s fiction audiences
• Felt festive without being overly commercial
• Worked across print and digital formats
• Included full spine and back cover layouts with readable typography

My Role

• Visual concept and layout
• Typography hierarchy and genre alignment
• Decorative framing and seasonal motifs
• Spine and back cover formatting
• Author bio and synopsis placement
• Print-ready formatting for publisher specs

Design Approach

I focused on two emotional tones:

Book 1: Christmas in Brookdale

• Red car with tree evokes movement, nostalgia, and classic holiday charm
• Decorative borders and soft lighting create warmth
• Typography balances elegance with readability

Book 2: A Country Christmas in Brookdale

• Snow‑covered barn and winter landscape evoke quiet reflection, rural charm, and heartfelt simplicity
• Soft snowfall, cool tones, and gentle lighting create a peaceful, contemplative atmosphere
• Typography blends rustic warmth with clarity, supporting the story’s themes of first love and personal growth

Final Designs

• Christmas in Brookdale
• A Country Christmas in Brookdale

Each includes front, spine, and back cover with synopsis, author bio, and reader praise.

Impact

• Successfully aligned with genre expectations
• Ready for print and digital distribution
• Strengthened author branding across multiple titles
• Demonstrated my ability to design for seasonal campaigns and emotional tone

Reflection

This project allowed me to explore festive design with narrative depth. It strengthened my skills in print layout, genre-specific typography, and emotional visual storytelling — and added a warm, seasonal touch to my portfolio.

⭐ GET LIT Festival of Books — Case Study

Overview

The Get LIT Festival of Books is a three‑day community literacy event celebrating storytelling, creativity, and connection. The organizers needed a cohesive promotional campaign that energized the community, increased early registrations, and unified the event’s visual identity across print and digital platforms. My goal was to create a flexible, accessible system that reflected the festival’s vibrant, community‑centered mission.

The Challenge

The organizers wanted visuals that:

• Captured the festival’s energy without feeling overwhelming
• Appealed to adults, teens, educators, and families
• Highlighted both the literary programming and the social, community‑driven atmosphere
• Encouraged early registrations with clear, compelling calls to action

They needed a cohesive multi‑piece campaign that could be used across print, social media, and email while maintaining clarity, accessibility, and brand consistency.

My Role

• Visual concept and layout for multi‑piece campaign
• Typography hierarchy and accessible messaging
• Color system and iconography development
• Photography selection and community‑focused imagery
• Multi‑format adaptation for print, social, and email
• Registration CTA design and early‑signup emphasis
• Accessibility‑focused formatting for clarity and readability

Design Approach

• Bright, energetic color palette to communicate excitement and accessibility
• Friendly, modern typography to highlight key event details and CTAs
• Open‑book icon with radiating lines to symbolize inspiration and shared ideas
• Photography of hands and books to create authenticity and community connection
• Modular layout system for consistency across print, social, and email formats
• “Part Lit. Part Social.” messaging to balance education with celebration

Final Designs

Impact

• Strengthened the festival’s visual identity across all promotional materials
• Provided a cohesive multi‑piece campaign for print and digital use
• Supported early registration efforts with clear, compelling CTAs
• Helped the organization present a polished, community‑focused presence
• Created a flexible visual system that can be reused for future festivals

Reflection

• Reinforced my commitment to accessible, community‑centered design
• Strengthened my ability to build multi‑format campaigns with clarity and warmth
• Deepened my experience designing for literacy, education, and nonprofit outreach
• Showcased how thoughtful visuals can support engagement and mission‑driven storytelling

⭐ Spotlight Center Stage — Case Study

Overview

Spotlight Center Stage is a community theater organization dedicated to diverse, inclusive performances and arts education. They needed promotional materials that highlighted volunteer opportunities, season ticket benefits, and donation pathways while celebrating their decade‑long impact on the local arts community. My goal was to create visuals that felt warm, inviting, and aligned with their mission of accessibility and creative engagement.

The Challenge

The organization wanted visuals that:

• Encouraged community involvement without feeling overwhelming
• Highlighted volunteering, ticket purchasing, and donation options clearly
• Reflected their commitment to diversity, education, and inclusive performance
• Maintained consistency across multiple promotional graphics

They needed a cohesive mini‑campaign that could be used across print, social media, and their website while staying true to their theatrical identity.

My Role

• Visual concept and layout for multi‑section promotional pieces
• Typography hierarchy and accessible messaging
• Color palette and brand‑aligned styling
• Photography selection to highlight performance diversity
• Modular formatting for print and digital use
• Call‑to‑action emphasis for volunteering, donating, and ticket sales
• Consistent visual system supporting their decade‑long brand identity

Design Approach

• Warm, theatrical color palette to reflect creativity and community
• Clean, readable typography to support accessibility and clarity
• Photography showcasing diverse performers to reinforce inclusivity
• Modular layout structure for clear separation of volunteer, ticket, and donation sections
• Consistent framing and spacing to maintain brand cohesion
• Prominent CTAs to encourage engagement and support

Final Designs

The completed promotional set included:

• Volunteer information graphic
• Season ticket benefits layou
• Donation call‑to‑action panel
• Multi‑section promotional flyer
• Web‑ready graphics for community outreach

Each piece used consistent colors, typography, and imagery to create a unified, mission‑aligned visual identity.

Impact

• Strengthened the organization’s promotional clarity and visual consistency
• Provided ready‑to‑use materials for print, social media, and web
• Supported volunteer recruitment and season ticket engagement
• Helped communicate their mission of inclusive, community‑centered performance
• Created a flexible system that can be adapted for future seasons

Reflection

• This project deepened my experience designing for arts‑focused organizations and reinforced the importance of clarity, warmth, and accessibility in community outreach. It showcased how thoughtful visuals can support engagement, celebrate diversity, and strengthen the connection between a theater and its audience.

🎨 Design Philosophy