Tea Cup Cottage is a registered NDIS disability support provider in South East Queensland and Toowoomba. Founded by Alexandra Shaw in 2010, the organization was built from a personal experience of caring for a family member with a disability.
Tea Cup Cottage, a disability support provider based in Capalaba, QLD, is dedicated to helping people with disabilities live fulfilling lives. Their new initiative, For Life, is an online community designed to connect people of all abilities with trusted support workers, giving them control over their support networks.
I had the opportunity to work with Adriene (General Manager) and Susan (Content Management) on this project. From the start, it was clear that the team at Tea Cup Cottage was passionate about their mission. Their enthusiasm and commitment to accessibility made this project a fulfilling experience.
As the lead designer, I was responsible for the entire rebranding process. This included:
Given the importance of accessibility in their services, I focused on making sure that every design decision aligned with usability best practices. The goal was to create an inclusive, easy-to-navigate platform that reflected the warmth and trustworthiness of Tea Cup Cottage.
Before diving into design, we explored what made Tea Cup Cottage special. The company’s mission is deeply rooted in care, compassion, and empowerment, which needed to be reflected in both the branding and the digital experience.
Understanding the pain points of users—both support workers and individuals with disabilities—helped shape the direction of the brand. We ensured that the messaging was clear, the visuals were welcoming, and the interface was highly intuitive.
The For Life platform needed to be more than just a functional website—it had to inspire confidence and foster connections. Our key design goals included:
The rebranding process was guided by a human-centered approach, ensuring that every aspect of the platform aligned with the needs of the community it served.
The process of designing For Life was smooth and enjoyable. The Tea Cup Cottage team was incredibly supportive, making collaboration seamless. We held regular discussions with the founders and stakeholders to refine our direction, ensuring that every design choice resonated with the core mission of the brand.
The website design was kept intentionally simple—a streamlined company profile that communicated the essence of Tea Cup Cottage without unnecessary complexity. The rebranding work, including the deck templates and design system, provided a strong foundation for future growth.
Since accessibility was a key priority, we conducted usability testing to ensure the design was truly inclusive. The iteration process involved refining elements based on feedback, ensuring that navigation was seamless and information was easy to digest.
By working closely with the team, we were able to address minor improvements along the way, ensuring that the final product was both visually compelling and functionally efficient.
Looking back, this project was one of the most rewarding experiences in my career. Not only was it a fun and engaging process, but it was also deeply meaningful. The alignment between my passion for design and the team’s dedication to improving lives made this collaboration incredibly fulfilling.
Working with Adriene, Susan, and the entire Tea Cup Cottage team reinforced the power of collaborative design. The For Life platform is now a strong, user-friendly foundation that will continue to support and empower the disability community.
Tea Cup Cottage is a registered NDIS disability support provider in South East Queensland and Toowoomba. Founded by Alexandra Shaw in 2010, the organization was built from a personal experience of caring for a family member with a disability.
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