Digital By Design. Movement By Nature.

The Challenge

In a world where beauty standards still whisper who belongs and who doesn’t, Dove did something bold in 2020 they stood beside Black women and girls, confronting hair discrimination and helping to birth a cultural and legislative force: The CROWN Act.

Gold silhouette of a person's head with an afro hairstyle on a beige background.

But this wasn’t just about awareness. It was about advocacy, agency, and the right to show up fully ourselves—whether in classrooms, boardrooms, or campaign trails.

The challenge? Bring it to life online. Not as a campaign site. As a movement home.

Solid mustard yellow color background
"#PassTheCrown" text graphic on gold background
Solid mustard yellow color background

The Approach

I was contracted as Lead Digital Designer to bring the CROWN Act movement to life through strategy-driven design. TheCROWNAct.com launched as a hub for transformation, a space where Black and Brown women could feel seen, supported, and mobilized.

But it didn’t stop there.

Each year, I was re-engaged to lead design for CROWN Day, the annual celebration and rallying point of the movement. These evolving digital activations became a tradition, reimagined each year to reflect the movement’s growth, urgency, and joy.

From interactive timelines to storytelling hubs and advocacy toolkits, every design decision served a dual purpose: honor the culture, and move the mission forward.

This wasn’t just about making it look good. It was about making it mean something.

Collage of logos and text related to the CROWN Act, featuring the CROWN Awards by Dove, CROWN Conversations powered by Dove, and CROWN Day on July 3. Includes logos of various organizations like Dove, Color of Change, and Western Center on Law & Poverty, emphasizing support for the CROWN Coalition.

Working alongside a powerhouse team of Black women strategists, I helped shape key initiatives, including:

  • CROWN Day (annual digital experience redesign)

  • The CROWN Awards

  • CROWN Conversations, a storytelling series that sparked community and culture

One major turning point? Partnering with LinkedIn to take these conversations into corporate spaces, framing hair bias as an equity issue, not just a personal one. From salon chairs to boardroom tables, we expanded the narrative and invited new champions in.

The Impact

What started as a contract became a calling:

  • 27 states have enacted the CROWN Act

  • 500,000+ signatures and counting, pushing for federal legislation

  • Millions engaged through advocacy, storytelling, and lived experience

This wasn’t just a gig, it was legacy work. My father helped brands bridge culture and responsibility long before DEI made headlines. Being part of the CROWN movement allowed me to carry that forward through design, strategy, and story that centers humanity and drives change.

  • Transforming Mission Into Momentum

    "Susan is amazing! Her creativity, digital expertise, and storytelling skills have been such a valuable part of our team’s effort to advance The CROWN Act. Her ability to transform complex ideas into clear, impactful stories helped elevate our mission and inspire meaningful change. We’re grateful for her dedication and the energy she brought to this important work."

    Esi Eggleston Bracey, Chief Growth and Marketing Officer, Unilever

Why It Matters

At Kenekts, we don’t just help people get seen; we help them get heard. The CROWN Movement proved that when digital presence is rooted in clarity and culture, it can shift not just perception, but policy.

This wasn’t just design.
It was digital liberation.
And it’s only the beginning.

Next: See how I carried that same energy forward, guiding the next generation to show up boldly through creative digital literacy, NBA All-Stars, and future-forward storytelling.