logo of heylow

A digital studio driven
by Beauty & Sustainability

We exist to support those dedicated to social and environmental justice, by providing bespoke and qualitative communication tools and websites, helping them succeed in their vital work. We are also deeply committed to promoting sustainability in the digital industry.

• Our services

Websites
& everything around it

We offer bespoke digital creative solutions, carefully crafted to meet the unique requirements of our clients. Our core expertise lies in low-carbon websites that are the foundation of the digital ecosystems we create.

Brand Strategy & Identity

Positioning, Naming, Tone of Voice, Copywriting, Visual Identity, Logo Design, Social Media Templates

Web Design & Development

UX Design, UI Design, Web Development, Optimisation & Maintenance

Consultancy

Workshop, Digital Footprint Audit

• Our products

Efficient and simple.
Just like a bike

"Don't build a sportcar if a bike can bring you where you want to go".
That's the design philosophy we are following. We are aiming to build tools for our client that are just like bicyles: light, speedy, and efficient.

Sustainability

🌿

Our digital products are designed to use fewer resources and are powered by low-carbon energy sources.

Fast

Websites designed to be lightweight naturally load faster, resulting in improved performance and higher conversion rates.

Beautiful

🌸

Just because something is lightweight doesn't mean we have to remove everything, including style. We aim to build beautiful websites that reflect the brand of our clients' organisations.

Green Hosted

🔆

Our websites are all power consumed at our data centres (from Krystal.io) comes from 100% renewable sources. All centres have achieved a PUE (Power Usage Effectiveness) rating of at least 1.2.

Easy to use

We aim for a clear and simple design that makes it easy for visitors to navigate through the websites we build. We also use a very intuitive CMS to make it easy for our clients to edit content.

Future Proof

💫

We focus on stability, security, reliability and proven solutions to be as compatible as possible with all kinds of devices, from the old to the new and everything in between.

An all-in-one solution
for a smooth ride...

We've chosen tools that align with our values: fast, secure, and easy to use. Built by independent companies, not big tech corporations.These tools deliver the best experience for customers and us. They stand the test of time and produce great results.

Content Management
with Kirby CMS

Through research and analysis, we uncover valuable insights to inform the creative direction of your project.

Forms & Emails
with Brevo

Through research and analysis, we uncover valuable insights to inform the creative direction of your project.

Green Hosting
with Krystal

Through research and analysis, we uncover valuable insights to inform the creative direction of your project.

Analytics
with Plausible

Through research and analysis, we uncover valuable insights to inform the creative direction of your project.

...or bring your own gear.

On request, we can also adapt to other solutions specified by our customers, or propose new ones to adapt to specific needs. In the past, we have successfully integrated platforms such as TicketTailor for ticketing management and Shopify for e-commerce, among others.

Let’s discuss your next project?

• Our process

Three steps to create
something unique

We are here to guide your brand through a transformative journey that turns a humble caterpillar into a breathtaking butterfly.

1. Discovery

Through research and analysis, we uncover valuable insights to inform the creative direction of your project.

2. Development

We use insights from exploration to brainstorm, refine, and shape tailored solutions that bring your vision to life.

3. Launch

We bring the chosen concept to life, transforming it into a polished and cohesive end-product.

• Our design practice

Born to be
low-carbon

Sustainable web design is in our DNA (and our name). Since day one we have been practicing this essential design practice since day one and now share our expertise via talks or workshops.

We have developed 10 principles that we follow in all our projects.

1. People & Planet over Profit
We are a purpose-led studio; We prioritize projects that focus on climate action and social justice. We have a strict policy of declining any future contracts with fossil fuel companies or trade associations and front groups representing the interests of these companies.
2. Keeping it simple
In a complex world of choices, simplicity shines. Just like the best pizzas focus on mastering a few key ingredients—dough, sauce, and cheese—we apply the same principle to website design. Embracing simplicity eliminates non-essentials, emphasizing what truly matters. It brings clarity, efficiency, and ease to design and content.
3. Beauty matters
Beauty enhances our lives. It helped our ancestors survive by indicating safety and edibility in nature. Neglecting beauty leads to dull environments and stress, while aesthetically pleasing surroundings improve well-being. Nature's efficient designs exemplify the power of beauty.
4. Defining boundaries
Just as Earth has boundaries, we establish our own limits for each project. By defining a page budget or the desired environmental impact, we set clear boundaries to guide our work. Regular reassessment ensures alignment with our goals throughout the development of a project.
5. Limiting energy-intensive medias
We prioritize efficiency by avoiding energy-intensive media in our projects. Videos can be heavy, difficult to navigate, and costly to produce. They are also less searchable and can quickly become outdated. 3D graphics drain device batteries and pose accessibility challenges. We minimize excessive animations and blinking elements to create an efficient and user-friendly experience by using media judiciously.
6. Using images efficiently
We make sure that every image serves a purpose in our projects. By avoiding unnecessary decorative images that lack value, we maintain a focused and meaningful visual experience. We meticulously optimize the format, size, and compression of our images, resulting in the best possible outcomes.
7. Typography on center stage
In our design philosophy, typography reigns supreme. The selection and implementation of font(s) play a pivotal role in creating a unique identity and influencing the overall atmosphere of the project. By meticulously curating fonts, we bring depth and character to our designs. Typography breathes life into our creations, making them visually captivating and impactful.
8. Reducing waste
Efficiency is at the core of our approach, and we employ various strategies to achieve it. Additionally to compressing and serving images in suitable sizes, we minimize data consumption and waste by removing unnecessary scripts. We also use cache system to reduce repetitive resource requests, enhancing overall efficiency.
9. Educating and engaging
We believe in the power of education and engagement to drive meaningful transformation. Recognizing that websites are dynamic and ever-evolving, we understand the importance of involving content creators in minimizing the environmental impact. We are part of a complex system and that change requires collective effort. By sharing our knowledge and empowering our team and clients with actionable instructions, we aspire to create a butterfly effect, sparking positive change beyond our immediate reach.
10. Progress over perfection
The pursuit of a sustainable web is a marathon, not a sprint. As web sustainability gains momentum, we're dedicated to embracing this direction while prioritizing well-being and enjoyment. Imperfections are inevitable. Mistakes are part of the learning process as we all navigate this journey together towards a more just and regenerative future.

• Our studio

Small is beautiful

We are a family business with no plans to get big. We advocates for scaling down ecologically destructive industries while nurturing regenerative ones. In the digital world, this is symbolized by the end of planned obsolescence and longer use of devices. That's what we're doing in our practice by focusing on creating lightweight websites that work well on older devices.

Nicolas Paries

Founder - Design & Code

With over 16 years of experience in the digital industry, having worked with premium luxury brands such as Chanel, Lancôme, Dior and LVMH, Nicolas founded Hey Low in 2020 to support those committed to social and environmental justice and to work on the environmental impact of the internet.

Elisa Ribeiro Soares

Marketing & Project Manager

Elisa is a digital marketer with a proven track record of driving significant results for businesses of all sizes, especially in the pharma and FMCG industries. She develops targeted campaigns that generate substantial revenue and leads design teams to deliver impactful solutions.

Let’s discuss your next project?