The Context
Becky Vaughn is the daughter of my former pastor, Dr. John C. Vaughn. When Becky was just two and a half years old, a house fire in 1978 left her with third-degree burns over more than 90% of her body. By God’s grace, she survived against overwhelming odds and has lived a life marked by resilience, courage, and faith.
Decades later, Becky’s family reached out with a specific goal: to create a simple, clear, and dignified website — along with a short promotional film — to help raise funds so Becky could fully purchase a home designed to meet her needs as a person with special needs.
The Objective
This was not a marketing project.
It was not a brand launch.
It was a mission with one clear purpose:
Tell Becky’s story honestly and respectfully — and remove every possible obstacle between the viewer and the decision to help.
The site needed to:
- Be emotionally compelling, but never manipulative
- Be extremely simple to navigate
- Integrate cleanly with a donation platform
- Work beautifully on all devices
- Support a large number of Frequently Asked Questions without overwhelming the page
The Solution
I designed and built a deceptively simple, one-page WordPress website using a custom theme created specifically for this project.
Key elements included:
- A focused, single-page layout to maintain narrative flow
- Integration with crowdfunding platforms for donations
- Carefully selected typography to match the tone and pacing of the accompanying video
- Organize a substantial FAQ section without visual clutter
The Video
In addition to the website, I created a video to serve as the foundational appeal of the project.
Video production included:
- Editing in Final Cut Pro
- Sourcing, curating, and sequencing hundreds of historical photos
- Carefully syncing imagery to a professionally recorded voice-over and music soundtrack
- Maintaining a restrained pace that allowed the story to breathe
Every creative decision — from image timing to font choice — was made to support the story, not compete with it.
The Result
Becky’s Home is a quiet example of what thoughtful design can do when it gets out of its own way:
- A clear message
- A dignified presentation
- A frictionless path to action
As I write this, BeckyHome.com has been able to provide for all but $13,857 of the original $275,000 goal!
Often the most effective design isn’t loud or complex.
It’s simply faithful to its purpose.