Disability Network Eastern Michigan
Disability Network Eastern Michigan (DNEM) empowers individuals with disabilities to lead self-directed lives through access to inclusive community resources. Rooted in advocacy and accessibility, their mission promotes a more equitable world for all.
DNEM partnered with PMSI to modernize their brand, delivering a refreshed visual identity and fully redesigned, accessibility-first website. From logo to layout, every element was crafted to be bold, inclusive, and aligned with the needs of their diverse audience.
A Symbol of Strength in Diversity
The DNEM logo visually captures the essence of community, diversity, and inclusion. It features three triangles in blue, orange, and white, each symbolizing individuals within a community. The triangles vary in size and shape, celebrating the diversity of people and their unique contributions.
This design aligns with their mission to promote inclusion and break down barriers, showcasing that everyone, regardless of their background or abilities, is valued. The logo reflects the vision of empowering individuals with disabilities to pursue personal growth and independence through access to resources and support.
Prioritizing Accessibility in Color Design
Creating an inclusive brand experience for DNEM meant going beyond aesthetics—it required a deep focus on accessibility. Our team carefully evaluated every color combination across the palette, testing contrast between text, UI elements, and backgrounds to ensure legibility for all users.
Using the Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) AAA standards, we measured contrast ratios to meet or exceed benchmarks: 7:1 for standard body text, 4.5:1 for large text, and 3:1 for graphic and interface elements. The accompanying graphic illustrates our testing process, comparing acceptable and non-compliant combinations to guide our final color selections.
By choosing combinations that passed at the highest level of accessibility, we ensured DNEM’s brand could be experienced fully and confidently by every user, regardless of visual ability.
"Disability Network Eastern Michigan partnered with PMSI for our website development, and the experience exceeded our expectations. PMSI was highly receptive to our input, maintained a structured timeline, and ensured a seamless collaboration. Their dedication to accessibility, adhering to WCAG 2.1AA guidelines, made our website truly inclusive. With their expertise and professionalism, we now have a site that is visually appealing, functional, and accessible to all. We proudly recommend PMSI for their outstanding work."
Communications & Development Director
Design That Reflects the Mission
Our collaboration with DNEM was driven by a shared belief in the power of inclusive design. By pairing accessibility best practices with bold, intentional visuals, we helped bring their mission to life across every touchpoint—from logo to website. The result? A brand experience that not only looks modern and cohesive but also reinforces DNEM’s core promise: that every individual deserves to be seen, supported, and empowered.
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