Supporting the Story Behind ABLE: From Brand Strategy to Website Redesign

Not every project at .eloise. design co. begins with a request for design. Sometimes, it begins with a conversation, a challenge, or simply someone needing a fresh perspective.

That's how our relationship with filmmaker Kelly Collins Lintz began this summer.

Kelly is the writer and director behind ABLE, an independent feature film inspired by the true story of Kayla Kosmalski, a young woman with Down syndrome whose life challenges assumptions about what's possible. The film is planned to be produced right here in Auburn-Opelika, and Kelly has been working tirelessly to bring the story to the big screen.

By the time she reached out to me, she had already accomplished an incredible amount. She had rallied community support, created fundraising opportunities, and built relationships with people who believed in the film's mission.

But she was also carrying a lot of responsibility. With so many moving pieces and the demands of fundraising, she was looking for a creative partner who could offer perspective, challenge her thinking, and help her figure out where to focus next.

Sometimes Moving Forward Means Doing Less

We began with one of our strategic consulting sessions, which included an extensive audit of ABLE's existing marketing efforts, digital presence, and fundraising communications.

I reviewed what Kelly had already put in motion, explored what was available online, uncovered some information and opportunities she hadn't come across, and looked for ways to build on the work she'd already done.

But one of the most important parts of our conversation wasn't about what else she could do.

It was about what she might need to stop doing.

What got the project to this point might not be what gets it to the finish line.

I've seen this happen with business owners and organizational leaders many times. The strategies that help us gain traction in the beginning aren't always the ones that will carry us through the next phase of growth.

And when we've invested so much time and energy into something, it can be difficult to recognize when it's time to shift our approach.

For Kelly, we talked about identifying which efforts were producing results, which activities were consuming valuable time and energy, and which bigger opportunities deserved more of her attention.

It wasn't about abandoning everything she'd done. Quite the opposite. We wanted to recognize what was working and find ways to lean into those efforts while making room for the bigger asks that could help move the film closer to production.

Sometimes the value of strategy isn't a longer list of ideas or a detailed plan to follow. It's the clarity to make better decisions about where your time, energy, and resources should go next.

View the full ABLE movie website here

From Strategy to Continued Support

Our work together didn't end with that session.

As Kelly continued navigating fundraising, developing new opportunities, and bringing more people into the project, we stayed in regular communication. I enjoyed being someone she could reach out to for feedback, ideas, and another perspective as things evolved.

And they certainly evolved.

Kelly continued to build an impressive network of supporters and partners who believed in ABLE and wanted to see the film become a reality. Watching her persistence and the community's response has been inspiring.

As the project grew, though, I recognized that one piece of her communication wasn't keeping up with everything she was accomplishing.

Her website.

The original website had served its purpose in getting the project started, but ABLE had grown beyond what that initial digital presence could effectively communicate. Information was spread across two websites, and the one-page format didn't provide enough room to tell the story, recognize the people involved, and present the growing number of ways to support the film.

A bigger story deserved a bigger platform.

We saw an opportunity to use our team's expertise to support something we believed in. So I offered to rebuild the ABLE website pro bono as our in-kind contribution to the film.

From Strategy to Continued Support

Our team went to work creating a more comprehensive digital home for ABLE.

We consolidated two websites into one and transformed the original single-page website into a multi-page

experience that better reflects the film's mission, momentum, and growing community of supporters.

BEFORE

AFTER

The redesigned website gives visitors a clearer way to explore the story behind ABLE, meet the people bringing it to life, learn about fundraising progress, and discover opportunities to get involved.

We also wanted to make sure the website could continue serving Kelly long after our initial work was complete.

With fundraising initiatives, contests, sponsorships, and production updates continuing to develop, the website needed to be something Kelly and her virtual assistant could easily maintain and update as the project progressed.

It wasn't simply about giving ABLE a new look. It was about creating a more useful and sustainable tool that could support the work Kelly was already doing and the opportunities still ahead.

The Value of a Creative Partnership

As I reflect on our work with ABLE, what stands out to me isn't just the website we created.

It's how the relationship developed.

Kelly initially came to EDC for strategic perspective. She needed someone to evaluate what she'd already accomplished, help her think differently about her next steps, and offer support as she made important decisions.

Because we understood her goals and continued to stay connected, we were able to recognize another way our team could contribute.

That's something I value about the work we do at .eloise. design co. Creative partnerships don't always follow a predictable path. Sometimes our greatest contribution is helping a client determine what not to do. Other times, it's rolling up our sleeves and creating something tangible that helps them move forward.

And sometimes, it's both.

We're grateful Kelly trusted us to play a small part in bringing ABLE to life. More than anything, we're proud of what she has accomplished and excited to see how the Auburn-Opelika community continues to rally around this important story.

Help Bring ABLE to the Big Screen

ABLE is more than a film project. It's an opportunity to challenge assumptions, celebrate ability, and share a story that deserves to be told.

With plans to film in Auburn-Opelika in 2027, Kelly and her team are continuing to raise funds, build partnerships, and invite the community to be part of the journey.

We hope you'll take a few minutes to learn more about the film and consider how you might support it, whether that's through a donation, business sponsorship, volunteering, or simply sharing the story.

Visit www.ablemovie.com to learn more and get involved.