One of the things that I love most about being a designer is that I’m constantly learning – both inside and outside of my own industry. At Silverscape, we’re lucky enough to have a broad client base and it’s allowed me to get knee-deep in the science behind fire-retardant performance garments, what separates artisan chocolate from your run-of-the-mill Hershey Bar, the technology that propels secure data protection and control, and even the details of safety and environmental compliance within the construction industry. Getting to really know a client once they’ve come on board is an exciting process, but beginning an engagement with a client whose services are already close to your heart is even more rewarding.

When I started at Silverscape, Health Management Resources (HMR) was already a client, and their robust corporate site was about ready to launch. Several months earlier, and completely unrelated, my mom had started the HMR program and was well on her way to losing 60-some pounds and undergoing a complete lifestyle 180. Her insights, and – as a frequent dieter, myself – my own, became invaluable to me as Silverscape began planning and implementation for a large-scale HMR e-commerce website and soon to follow, a community-driven microsite. My weekly phone calls home would turn to work, and my mom and I would bore my dad and sister off the line with lengthy discussions about diet and lifestyle marketing strategy and what she, as a client, sought out.

Her perspective informed every step of my design process – I sought out inspirational, yet not unrealistic, photography. I carefully crafted a color palette and aesthetic that honored HMR’s respected medical background but that also provided a supportive and friendly online haven for the struggling dieter. “Dieting is hard!” my mom said, “make a website that's engaging, fun, useful and easy!” I’ve kept this as my mantra, from initial brainstorming sessions to production. Sure enough, the team has risen to the occasion, launching an e-commerce site including a persistent shopping cart with dynamic updates, an intuitive repeat-order scheduling tool, product prep tips and an inviting UI. I can’t wait for her to sign up for the forums on the community site, to browse through and submit her own HMR recipes, and add her own success story to the site. Bearing witness to the huge impact that HMR has had on my mom’s life, and my own, has brought a real richness and fulfillment to my process and identity as a designer.