1st May 2025
At the end of a recent video call with one of our web design clients, they signed off by saying, "Thanks for being human!"
That simple comment meant a lot. It’s exactly the kind of thing we look for in a company and it’s something we've always made a conscious effort to bring to our work. We also value this quality in our clients, those who communicate openly and naturally, without any assumptions about how to talk to "I.T. people."
Positive feedback about our approach and process is just as meaningful as praise for the finished website. That's because genuine, human interaction between collaborators is what leads to the best results. In fact, it's such a vital part of any project that we thought it was worth breaking down exactly why 'being human' matters so much in a web design partnership.
Human-centred design goes together with human-centred communication
We don't expect clients to know the lexicon of web development or UX (user experience) - but they do know their aims, why they need a website, their stakeholders and their own resources. These are the things we ask them about. Speaking in clear language encourages better discussion and more useful feedback. This sets the tone for the whole design process, which is about people, not pixels.
Approachability builds trust
Clients may understandably feel vulnerable when commissioning a website. It can be a big investment tied to their business or personal brand. Being approachable and providing gentle leadership helps reduce anxiety and creates a safe space for questions and honest input. Trust and confidence in the web developer leads to a smoother project process that's enjoyable for everyone.
Translating tech into tangible outcomes
Clients shouldn't have to care about the technical details of their website. They care about their goals and calls to action their web users should take, such as accessing support, finding information, booking events, buying a product and so on. Stripping away the tech speak allows us to focus on discussions about outcomes and because we choose to work with organisations and individuals who are making a positive difference, their outcomes are all the more important to us.
How we feel makes all the difference
We want clients to come away from a web development project feeling respected, heard and understood and we want to feel that way too. Positive experiences like this are more likely to lead to long-term working relationships and potentially more opportunities for both parties.
6th Feb 2025
On June 28th 2025 the European Accessibility Act (EAA) comes into force. The Act aims to ensure equitable access to online digital services (including websites) and products for users in the European Union. It applies to any business that provides products and services to consumers in the EU, wherever the business is based. This means that it applies to UK businesses.
See our previous article 'Website accessibility - what, why and how' for more details on what web accessibility means, why it is important and ways to make your website more accessible.
Previously, legislation based around website accessibility has been aimed mainly at Public Sector bodies but the EAA focusses on the private sector. It applies to businesses who trade in the EU, who are based outside of the EU but sell products and services within the EU and who have at least 10 employees and a turnover of €2 million.
Whilst the EAA may not apply to some smaller businesses and individuals, we believe that all website owners should be working towards a more accessible internet. As in other areas of society, many people are disadvantaged in the digital world due to unequal access to information, services and products. Older people, disabled people and those without access to fast internet services will all benefit from websites that are designed and created to accessibility standards.
Find more detailed information about the European Accessibility Act at:
European Union
European Commission
Ability Net
Gov.uk - understanding accessibility requirements
13th Dec 2024
For Christmas break, we will be closing our office at 5pm on Friday 20th December 2024 and re-opening on Monday 6th January 2025.
We will be taking some time to rest, spend time with loved ones and enjoy the festivities. For any non urgent website or hosting queries, please e-mail us as usual and we will get back to you on our return. We also have lots of helpful guides for common questions relating to billing, e-mails and managing your website hosting in our support section.
If you have any urgent support queries during that time, please use our urgent support helpdesk.
A huge thank you to all of our clients and colleagues for your support. This year was a big one and our 20th anniversary! We look forward to working with you next year and beyond!
12th Dec 2024
So here it is, our last client appreciation post of 2024 and a great one to end the year…
Ethical Revolution
26 steps to a better world
ethicalrevolution.co.uk
We Make Our Way
Woodworking studio, classes and workshops
wemakeourway.co.uk
The Nyika Vwaza Trust
Environmental & wildlife conservation in Malawi
nyika-vwaza-trust.org
Eleanor Minney
Psychotherapy and wellbeing
eleanorminneyresource.co.uk
SEDA
Scottish Ecological Design Association
seda.uk.net
Derby SENDIASS
Special Education Needs and Disabilities Information & Advice
derbysendiass.org.uk
Elizabeth Skinner
Confidence coach for women in tech
elizabethskinner.net
Heads Up
Supporting young people to develop skills for life
headsupmha.com
BodyIntuitive by Britt
Holistic health therapist
britt.dk
Sustainable Haltwhistle
Reducing the impact of the community on the environment
sustainablehaltwhistle.org.uk
Bring Back Euro Trains
Campaign to reinstate Kent’s Euro trains service
bringbackeurotrains.com
Meadow Lodge
A tranquil cabin in Devon
meadowlodgedevon.com
Image descriptions:
1) A grid of images showing (clockwise) Eleanor Minnay, Sam Attard, Martin Sommerville, A team of researchers from The Nyika Vwaza Trust 2&3) Logos of the brands listed in this post
Photo copyright – The individuals and organisations listed in this post
6th Dec 2024
I’m Eleanor, and I appreciate you taking the time to read about my story.
In summer of 2023 I chose to create a new re-designed artistic website parallel to creating an online presence for my psychotherapy practice. With greater mindfulness of energy consumption, I was delighted to find my way to Green Hosting.
My intention was to share my work with my local community, while also establishing the wider presence that being online generates. I really value the responsive and helpful service offered by Green Hosting, to guide me through this process of setting up my websites.
Here is a little introduction to my story:
As a Psychotherapist in Training, and a freelance artist and facilitator, I’ve spent 15 years or so exploring and expressing aspects of internal and external environments, becoming more interested in the relationships we have with our experience. For example, how we relate to wellbeing, spirituality, our own nature, and our inter-dependant environment.
My initial training in Fine Art fostered an interest in the agency of therapeutic art, in an academic and fine art context. I also became conscious of the environmental implications of art making, which changed my process in the subsequent years - I started to work on projects that engaged people; created communication and collaboration. The completion of my BFA degree was, therefore, accompanied by an emerging curiosity in the deeper layers of experience. I developed socially-engaged arts work, with differing communities, while continuing my studies in Humanistic and Psychodynamic Counselling, followed by a training in Contemplative Buddhist Psychology. Along the way I worked and / or volunteered in adult mental health settings of various kinds.
I’m now (2024) in the final stages of training as a Mindfulness Based Core Process Psychotherapist and offer psychotherapy for adults in my local community in Oxford. Facilitating evolving creative projects through my arts practice offers group explorations of wellbeing and meaning making. I now find the fresh, expressive, and creative process happens in relationship with deeper contemplation.
I hope this gives readers a sense of how my artistic and psychotherapeutic work has unfolded and how the practices connect with one another.
To find out more about my work & origins you’re welcome to visit:
eleanorminneydrawing.co.uk and eleanorminneyresource.co.uk
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