Portfolio

Websites That Make a Difference

Every project below is built by hand — no page builders, no templates. Each one reflects the Benaiah Website Services standard: visual-first, text-based communication, and no audio dependency, so Deaf visitors experience the site the same way everyone else does.

Real Client · Live Website New Build · Single-Page Homepage

Unspoken Events Co.

Event planning that brings Deaf and hearing people together — where connection speaks louder than words.

View Live Website
Unspoken Events Co. homepage featuring founder Heidi DeGrace, event planning services, and Deaf-owned, Women-owned, Disabled-owned identity badges
Problem

A Real Business With No Web Presence

Heidi recognized she needed a website and reached out to BWS as our first client. Her goal: welcome both Deaf and hearing visitors equally.

  • No web presence to establish credibility
  • No platform to sell tickets or promote events
  • No way to display her Deaf-owned, Women-owned, Disabled-owned identity
Process

Designing for Two Audiences at Once

Every decision started with one question: does this work for a Deaf visitor without audio? If yes, it works for everyone.

Solution

A Visual-First Homepage That Serves the Community

  • Identity badges (Deaf-owned, Women-owned, Disabled-owned) above the fold
  • Direct ticket links via Ticket Tailor — no phone call needed
  • Text-based contact only — zero audio dependency
  • Founder photo and tagline front and center for instant trust
Results

Live, Serving Real Events

Phase 1 launched and immediately promoted Hands in Motion, Silent Voices at the Victoria Opera House in Baltimore, Ohio.

  • Live at unspokeneventsco.com
  • Ticket sales active via Ticket Tailor + Stripe
  • Phase 2 (10-page site) in planning
Project At a Glance
1
Real paying client
Phase 1 delivered
0
Phone calls required
to book or buy tickets
3
Identity badges
visible above the fold
10
Pages planned
for Phase 2
Concept · Deaf-Owned Brand New Build · E-Commerce Homepage

Deaf Earth Co.

A botanical apothecary brand built Deaf-first from the ground up — not accessible by accommodation, but by design.

View Concept Site

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Problem

What Does a Deaf-First E-Commerce Site Look Like?

Most "accessible" sites stop at alt text. The goal: build a site where ASL and text-first contact are the foundation — not an afterthought.

  • No reference point for a Deaf-first botanical brand site
  • Hero started with placeholder blocks — no product photos
  • Product filter was structurally broken on first build
Process

Building Around Deaf-First Principles

Terracotta, olive, and cream with Playfair Display — chosen to feel like an apothecary label. The "Watch in ASL" CTA sits at the same priority as Shop. Product photos were AI-generated with a consistent style across all products.

Solution

Deaf-First as the Foundation, Not an Add-On

  • Dedicated Deaf-First section — a full page feature, not a footnote
  • Text-first contact — no phone-only pathways
  • Broken product filter rebuilt with accessible vanilla JS
  • ASL modal with keyboard focus trap and screen reader support
  • Zero audio dependency throughout
Results

A Reference Point for Deaf-First E-Commerce

A fully hand-coded site showing what Deaf-first design looks like in practice — details a Deaf visitor would notice immediately.

Future Enhancements

What a Production Version Would Add

This mock demonstrates the structural and accessibility foundation. A real client build would extend it with:

  • ASL welcome video — founder introduction in American Sign Language, with captions for hearing visitors
  • ASL product walkthrough videos — showing how each product is used, signed rather than narrated
  • Deaf business directory listings — DeafCloud, DeafBiz, Deaf Index, connecting the brand to Deaf community networks
  • Full e-commerce build — live product inventory, cart, and checkout
Project At a Glance
0
Page builders used
100% hand-coded
1
Dedicated Deaf-First
section in the nav
0
Phone-only contact
pathways
4
Accessibility layers:
motion, contrast, ARIA, skip link
Concept · Redesign Redesign · Photography Business Homepage

Caitlyn's Cats Gallery

Transforming a code demo into a real photography business website — built on visual-first principles that serve every visitor.

View Concept Site

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Problem

No Business Behind the Gallery

  • Built as a code demo — no clear purpose for visitors
  • No call to action anywhere on the page
  • No path from "I like these photos" to "I want to book"
Process

Designing Around Sight First

Every decision started with: what can a visitor understand using sight alone? Caitlyn's own approach — never rushing, letting subjects communicate on their terms — mirrors Deaf-first design perfectly.

Solution

A Visual-First Photography Business Site

  • Full-bleed hero with high-contrast headline — clear at a glance
  • Two CTAs above the fold: "Book a Session" and "View Gallery"
  • Text-based booking form — no phone call required
  • Response time stated upfront — no need to follow up
  • Descriptive alt text on every gallery photo
Results

From Demo to Destination

A site a real client could launch tomorrow — clear conversion path, Deaf-accessible booking, and a visual language that reflects the quality of the work.

"So many places only take phone calls. Caitlyn's form let me explain exactly what I wanted — no calls needed." — Deaf client

Future Enhancements

What a Production Version Would Add

  • ASL welcome video on the homepage — Caitlyn introducing herself and how booking works
  • ASL booking walkthrough — especially for first-time clients unsure what "in-home session" involves
  • Captioned video testimonials — if added, captions ship from day one
  • Deaf business directory listing — connecting Caitlyn's services to Deaf community referral networks
Project At a Glance
2
Clear CTAs added
(previously zero)
0
Phone calls required
to book a session
4
Nav items
clean & scannable
1
Clear path:
browse → book

Ready for a website that works for your community?

Every site I build is hand-coded, visual-first, and built without audio dependency — so your Deaf visitors get the same experience as everyone else.

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