Tessaku
Community & Non-Profit
CONTEXT
Tessaku is a non-profit founded by Diana Tsuchida to preserve and share the powerful stories of Japanese Americans incarcerated during WWII—including those of her own family. Diana approached me to redesign and migrate her Squarespace 7.0 site, seeking a modernized, more emotionally resonant platform to honor these stories and expand awareness through print and product offerings.
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Client Goals & Design Logic
Powerful personal histories that have a more compelling, accessible space to connect with future generations.
Diana's vision was to create a site that makes history feel personal and alive—one that invites curiosity, empathy, and engagement with long-form oral histories. She also wanted to grow Tessaku’s reach beyond archival storytelling, highlighting her printed journal series and future apparel line. The design needed to feel human and contemporary while preserving the gravity and reverence of the stories.
We focused on improving readability, reorganizing how stories are browsed, and infusing subtle motion and color to create a more dynamic experience. We also developed a clean, accessible shop and journal archive, all while migrating her to Squarespace 7.1 for a more powerful backend and easier content management.
OUTCOME
The redesigned site breathes new life into Diana’s mission, making history more relatable, visually engaging, and easier to navigate. By elevating both story and structure, Tessaku is now better equipped to connect with new audiences and carry its legacy forward.
client Luv
“Marya is visionary and makes the process for YOU enjoyable as well.”
Marya is a stunning web designer and collaborator. Professionalism at its finest! I was so lucky to have come across her work via Squarespace as I was looking for a designer to give my site a refresh. Marya is visionary and makes the process for YOU enjoyable as well. She is prompt, very thorough and a clear communicator. She provides you with all the resources you need to keep your site up to date and makes sure you’re comfortable with everything she’s implemented. I cannot thank Marya enough for her creativity and the genuine interest she took in designing my website. And I cannot recommend her enough! ✨
— Diana T.