Learning Design for a Greater Good

When people think of a food bank, design isn’t usually the first thing that comes to mind. But for the San Francisco-Marin Food Bank, thoughtful design has become essential to how they connect with the community, communicate their impact, and make sure no one goes hungry.

We recently spoke with Gary Lau, who leads creative and digital projects for the organization. His team works on everything from donation campaigns and volunteer materials to digital reports and social media assets—each piece carrying the weight of an important message.

“Our mission is to provide food for anyone who needs it,” Gary said. “But to do that effectively, we need to communicate in a way that people understand and trust. Design helps us tell those stories with clarity and care.”

Finding ways to grow with limited resources

Like many non-profits, the Food Bank runs on tight budgets and even tighter schedules. Their creative team is small, yet their workload covers everything from print design to digital user experience. Continuous learning is critical, but opportunities for formal training are rare.

“We can’t always afford to send people to long courses or conferences,” Gary shared. “But we still want to keep learning and improving the way we work.”

That search for flexible, affordable education led them to Uxcel for Non-profits—a program that grants free or discounted access to Uxcel’s learning platform for mission-driven teams.

“We discovered Uxcel and immediately saw how it could fit into our day-to-day work,” Gary explained. “The lessons are short and engaging, so our team can learn in between meetings or while preparing campaign materials. It fits into how we already work.”

Learning design through practical, everyday application

Once the Food Bank joined Uxcel, Gary and his colleagues began exploring courses in UX design, accessibility, and visual communication—all essential areas for organizations that rely on clear messaging and easy-to-navigate experiences.

Uxcel’s approach resonated with them immediately. The platform blends interactive, bite-sized lessons, skill assessments, and gamified progress tracking, making learning both approachable and measurable. Each team member can learn at their own pace, while the built-in analytics help them see how their skills improve over time.

“I really liked that it’s not just theory,” Gary said. “Every concept is backed by examples and visuals. You can apply what you learn right away, which is perfect for us because we’re constantly creating new content.”

For instance, the team found immediate use for lessons on color contrast and accessibility, helping them ensure that digital forms, donation pages, and reports were readable for everyone. Other courses in layout and visual hierarchy helped them simplify messaging and guide user attention more effectively.

From design decisions to community impact

These small design improvements had ripple effects across their work. Streamlined layouts made it easier for volunteers to sign up. More accessible forms helped more families request assistance. Clearer visual structure made donors feel confident their contributions were reaching the right people.

“Every hour we save or every clearer page we design means we reach more families faster,” Gary said. “That’s the part that feels meaningful. We’re not just learning design for ourselves—it’s improving how we serve others.”

This is the kind of outcome Uxcel strives to enable: learning that compounds over time. By helping teams upskill continuously, Uxcel ensures that growth doesn’t require stepping away from daily work. Learning happens in context, when and where it’s needed most.

The bigger mission: empowering learning for those who give back

Through the Universities & Non-profits program, Uxcel supports hundreds of organizations and institutions that use design as a force for good—whether they’re improving access to food, healthcare, or education.

These partnerships go beyond free access. Teams receive curated learning paths based on their roles and goals, along with certifications that validate progress. The result is a more confident, self-sufficient team that can create real impact without relying on costly or time-consuming training alternatives.

“Uxcel made learning feel simple again,” Gary concluded. “It reminded us that professional growth doesn’t have to be complicated. You just need the right tools and a bit of curiosity.”

The San Francisco-Marin Food Bank’s story is a reminder that design can be a quiet but powerful driver of social impact. When creative teams have the tools to keep learning, they create experiences that invite more people to participate, give, and care.

If your university or non-profit team is working toward a similar mission, you can learn more or apply for free access at uxcel.com/universities