Located in the heart of East Dorset, Vermont, The Wilson House is a historical site and a living tribute to the recovery community. Established in 1988 as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, they are committed to providing a space where the principles of Alcoholics Anonymous are lived and shared. The Wilson House offers a variety of programs and retreats that focus on the 12-step process, spiritual growth, and the healing power of community.
The Wilson House
Our role
The Eternity team worked closely with The Wilson House's executive director, Kim Norton, to make a well rounded brand. This included giving their logo a facelift, pushing their community based messaging and making sure their brand is as quirky and eclectic as the inside of their historic hotel. We restructured their navigation for a better user experience and curated their content, capturing photos and rewriting copy.
Some special features include the integration of an Elfsight widget which features the weekly menus they post on their Instagram, hand drawn illustrations from one of their in-house staff, and interactive gilded frames that emulate the antique photos hanging around the building.
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Branding
The Wilson House is a unique experience rooted in a rich history and has a community of people you can always lean on. We knew these values were imperative and wanted to bring them into the foundation of their brand. The word that kept coming up for us was eclectic so our first design challenge was "How do we inject the site with the many collected antiques, paperbound books and classic marble slabs without it feeling discombobulated?". After touring the hotel and chatting with volunteers preparing an afternoon meal for their guests, it became clear that it was all in the details.
We brought in an academic and playful typeface which was integrated into our logo. We kept their sturdy crimson red and used torn pieces of paper overlayed with a background of their wallpaper to make it feel like you are walking around the building. The hand drawn illustrations that an in-house artist created for us, added a genuine touch to our call-to-actions. The gilded frames on the home page features historic photos just like in their upstair hallway.
This brand is warm, playful and not something you stumble across everyday. We were able to flex our creative muscles and create a brand that is special, just like The Wilson House.
Accessibility
Performing an ADA audit takes time, but allows us to identify problematic parts of the website. We apply solutions to these identified areas throughout the website while referencing the WCAG guidelines and account for Level AA compliance standards.
We're proud to say that The Wilson House now has a Level AA compliance rated website! To learn more about ADA, please visit our accessibility page.
