Client Overview
Rough Patch is a non-profit social enterprise founded in 2020 challenging the dominant ways we think about mental health care provision in Australia. They started as a grassroots initiative in response to gaps in affordable counselling and increased demand for mental health services.
Our Goals
- To refresh and redesign their old website pro-bono
- To remove the online store and replace it with a filtered counsellor page, to help find a counsellor that matches your preferences
- To modernise the entire site, making it more suitable for a purely online business
Our Deliverables
- Website Wireframes & UX
- Website Design
- Counsellor Filter Function
- Website Build
- Testing & Site Launch
Rough Patch is an amazing non-profit social enterprise providing affordable mental health services Australia wide. They offer sliding scale counselling sessions and run a community for professional counsellors to deliver care in a sustainable, inclusive way.
Having worked with Rough Patch on their initial e-commerce site four years ago, we were familiar with their mission and excited to help them pivot their business fully online. With the closure of their physical location, it was time for a digital refresh that suited their evolving goals.
We were really excited to work with Rough Patch to create something new, and as soon as we saw the new colour pallette, we were beyond excited to play with their new designs.
THE PRIORITIES:
The biggest goal was to revamp Rough Patch’s website. Transforming it from an e-commerce platform to a service-based website tailored to finding the right counsellor. To do this properly, we staged a new site and worked directly with their founder and marketing coordinator to get this right.
1. Refreshing and redesigning the old website
As Rough Patch transitioned from a hybrid model to a completely online service, the design needed to modernise to reflect that shift. We aimed to create a site that was visually updated, user-friendly, and better suited for online interactions.
They also refreshed their branding, working with original designer Studio Together to have a brand new colour palette and font kit to make the new site feel fresher.
2. Replacing the online store with a filtered counsellor page
As Rough Patch no longer required the e-commerce functionality. we focused on building an easy to use filtered counsellor page, allowing users to find a professional that aligns with their needs. This filtering system aims to make it easier to match preferences like specialisations, fees, and inclusive care approaches.
3. Modernising the site for a purely online business
Without a physical location, the website needs to be the primary interaction point for all users. Our design centered around making navigation intuitive, mobile-responsive, and optimised for an online-only presence. We also helped optimise their SEO and give them some tips on keeping the backend of their website healthy.
DESIGN & DEVELOPMENT PROCESS:
For the redesign, we stayed aligned with Rough Patch’s new vibe and visual identity, but gave it a more contemporary and streamlined look compared to what it was before. As we weren’t responsible for the branding, the challenge was to take existing elements and enhance them for the web. Clean typography, updated visuals, and a simplified layout were key to making the site feel fresh without deviating too far from the brand.
The heart of the new site is the “Find A Counsellor” page. We developed a simple yet powerful filter that helps users sort through counsellors by their preferences, such as price range, specialisations, and inclusive practices. This custom feature ensures users can quickly find a match that suits their unique needs.
We handled the entire website build from start to finish. Built with a focus on speed and accessibility, we ensured every page was optimised for SEO and mobile-friendly. Rigorous testing was conducted before launch, ensuring the filter function, pages, and contact forms were working seamlessly across all devices.
“I’ve worked with Eb + Flo on 3 websites and the process was so easy and stress-free. Emily is incredibly patient, has a knack for explaining complicated processes in simple terms, and is very responsive. She has a great eye for design and aesthetics, as well as the technical skills to back it up. I loved working with Eb + Flo and highly recommend their services.”
HAVE A LOOK AT THE NEW WEBSITE YOURSELF:
This was a big project to complete, but we love the final product and think it represents who they are now a lot better.
The new website maintains the brand’s essence while modernising the design and making the counsellor matching process easier for users. By eliminating the online store and replacing it with the counsellor filter, we shifted the focus entirely to providing accessible mental health care.
Given the pro-bono nature of this project, we worked hard to keep external costs minimal. Our goal was to deliver a highly functional, professional website that serves Rough Patch’s mission of affordable mental health support.
We’re beyond proud to have been part of their journey from a local e-commerce store to a thriving online resource for counselling. Since we also designed their original site, this refresh offered an opportunity to reflect on how much Rough Patch has grown.
We’re obsessed with the final product, if you’d like to check out their new website and see more about what they do, check out their website below.
This was a collaborative project: The branding was designed by the talented Cara at Studio Together.
