Community is always the answer
Tzibur Harlem Website
Brief
Tzibur Harlem is a Jewish community-building organization in Harlem, New York. While interning at Loyal Design, I was tasked with building their website from the ground up. I carried out the project independently, with guidance and feedback from my supervisors, and worked directly with the client—leading Zoom meetings and managing most email communication—to ensure the design aligned with their vision and needs.
Team
Loyal Design
Focus
Web Design, Client Interaction
Duration
4 months
YEAR
2025
Discovery phase
The Challenge
For over a decade, Erica and Dimitry have been working to build Jewish community in Harlem, New York. Recently, they've wanted to formalize these efforts, requiring a site to match. They came to Loyal Design hoping to build a website that achieves a few goals: the site would have to be modern while also feeling elegant and warm — a reflection of the inclusive, community-centered spirit the couple was working to create.
The site would need to clearly communicate what the organization strived to do, as well as clearly communicate upcoming events, and create an easy way for site visitors to get involved. Working under the guidance of the Loyal Design team, I was responsible for designing and building the site, translating these goals into a visual experience that feels not only contemporary, but personal and intuitive.
Design Approach
Colors and Typography
Many Jewish organizations lean on predictable visual conventions: blue palettes, stark white space, and traditional motifs meant to evoke stability and heritage. For Tzibur, the goal was different. The site needed to appeal to young adults in Harlem, especially those who may identify as Jewish but don’t have a strong connection to Jewish practice or institutions. Rather than focusing on a “Jewish look,” the priority was to create a feeling of warmth and openness that could invite curiosity and belonging.
The palette centers on rich, earthy reds and soft neutrals, evoking comfort and intimacy rather than solemnity. A friendly serif typeface complements these tones, offering a elegant, but not too serious character that feels approachable and human. Together, the color and type choices position Tzibur as both rooted in tradition while also distinctly contemporary—a community that welcomes people in, wherever they’re coming from.
