Diversity, Equity,
Inclusion & Belonging
At Archetype Design Studio, I believe that design is not just a tool—it’s a reflection of the systems we live within and a space where we can choose to do things differently.
This studio exists to support therapists, healers, and mental health professionals whose work centers human dignity, relational depth, and care. As a disabled, neurodivergent, queer woman with firsthand experience navigating systems that weren’t built with people like me in mind, I’ve felt the exhaustion of invisibility, the pressure to assimilate, and the overwhelm of trying to do it all alone. Archetype was born out of the desire to co-create something else—something gentler, more intentional, and more equitable.
That commitment shows up in every part of my process.
It shows up in how I hold space for clients who may be navigating burnout, transition, or overwhelm.
It shows up in how I structure my services to reduce emotional labor and decision fatigue.
And it shows up in the ways I’ve built equity directly into the framework of my business—including:
Offering sliding scale and reduced-rate packages for BIPOC and disabled clients
Designing with accessibility as a baseline, not a bonus
Honoring clients’ boundaries and capacities with flexible timelines and co-creative workflows
Ensuring content and design reflect inclusive, trauma-informed, and non-pathologizing language
Being transparent, kind, and clear in all communications—because clarity is care
The Care Paradigm: A Framework
This studio is grounded in a framework I have developed called the Care Paradigm. It’s not just a philosophy—it’s a way of operating. The Care Paradigm is a values-first approach that reimagines how we structure work, systems, and relationships. It asks:
What would it look like to build a business that doesn’t just serve others, but sustains you too?
What if our websites weren’t just marketing tools, but spaces of trust, reflection, and support?
The Care Paradigm is built on four core values:
Care – Offering design and strategy that honors emotional labor and nervous system regulation
Clarity – Creating content and systems that reduce overwhelm and support ease
Integrity – Showing up honestly, transparently, and without performative fluff
Collaboration – Centering co-creation, autonomy, and deep listening in every project
In practice, this means I design at a pace that allows for real reflection. I listen more than I pitch. I don’t believe in pressuring people into working with me. I believe in meeting people where they are—with honesty, spaciousness, and trust.
Accessibility & Anti-Oppression Are Non-Negotiable
I reject the idea that design should only be available to those with the most resources, confidence, or technical fluency. I actively work to dismantle the gatekeeping that exists in the branding and web design industry—where so often the most powerful tools are inaccessible to the very people doing the most powerful work.
Whether you’re navigating ableism, racism, classism, or any other form of systemic harm, my goal is to ensure that the design process feels safe, supported, and affirming—not extractive or overwhelming.
This Is Ongoing Work
This is not a checklist. This is a living, evolving practice. I am always learning. I welcome feedback, dialogue, and challenge. I know I will get things wrong—and I am committed to making things right. My promise is not perfection, but presence. I show up, I listen, and I remain accountable to the values I hold.
If you’re a therapist or healing professional from a historically excluded background—especially if you’ve felt ignored, othered, or underserved in spaces like this—please know that this studio was built with you in mind.
If cost is a barrier, you’re invited to inquire about equity-based pricing.
If you need accessibility accommodations, you are encouraged to name them.
If you're unsure whether this is a fit, you are always welcome to reach out and ask.
Let’s make the digital world feel more like the one we’re trying to build: just, kind, and full of care.