So I just shipped Refrm—my first Framer template—and honestly, it was more challenging than I expected. But also really satisfying.

I want to pull back the curtain on why I built this and how it actually came together, because if you’re thinking about launching your first digital product (or you’re just curious how these things get made), this might be useful.

Behind the Build: Creating Refrm

❓The Why

It Started with a Question

Here’s the thing: I’ve spent 8+ years designing digital products and websites, mainly in the enterprise space. But I kept coming back to this question: how can I use what I know to actually contribute to the causes I care about?

I'm not a political organizer. I’ve never run a campaign. But I started researching digital advocacy and realized that just to get started is really challenging.

Traditional organizing strategies don’t always translate well to digital spaces (Harvard Kennedy School has a good piece on this). And in an age where attention spans are short, campaign velocity matters—you need to move quickly to shape public opinion.

So I kept asking: What if someone wants to get started? What gets them from zero to launched without the complexity?

That’s what Refrm is for.

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🛠️ The Process

The Build: Cliff Notes Version

Month 1: Research

I looked closely at progressive campaigns—both elected officials and grassroots candidates at different stages. The pattern was clear: regardless of where they were in their journey, every campaign needed to do three things well:

1. Promote awareness
2. Enable connection
3. Raise funds

Everything else was secondary.

Month 2: Wireframing

I sketched out the core pages: landing, about, platform, store, plus utilities like 404s, privacy pages, and event listings. The guiding principle was straightforward: make setup fast and keep the flow intuitive.

Month 3: Design & Build

Framer was a good fit here. I could prototype interactions, test mobile responsiveness, and iterate without writing much code. The goal was to create something anyone could pick up, add their content, and launch with just a Framer Pro subscription.

One example: the donation form went through several versions before I landed on something that felt clear and fits a use- case.

Month 4: Testing (Happening Soon)

I’ve got a testing session scheduled with an organizer for late January 2026. I’ll share what I learn—including what works and what needs improvement.

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🙇🏻 What I Learned

The Lessons

1. Feature creep is real

I almost added a blog, a podcast player, a photo gallery, and an endorsement page. Then I remembered this needs to be simple. I cut everything that wasn’t essential to the core mission—promote, connect, and fundraise.

2. Mobile is primary

Most people visit campaign sites from their phones. If your forms and overlays don’t work well on older devices, you’re losing people. I spent more time on mobile UX than I initially planned.

3. Third-party integration matters

Framer doesn’t have native payment or e-commerce features, but it integrates with tools like Shopify via webhooks and links. I had to create clear documentation for that setup—because a confusing donation flow defeats the purpose.

4. Progressive campaigns need authenticity

This was an important realization: trying to make a campaign site look overly polished can feel off-brand. Progressive organizing benefits from a genuine, grassroots feel. The message matters more than perfect design.

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📊 Results

So...Did it Work?

Honestly? I’m about to find out. I’m waiting on feedback from early subscribers and that organizer testing session. This is the uncertain part—putting something out there before you know how it performs in real use.

But here’s what I’m glad about regardless:

I built something that lets me contribute in the way I know how. Helping get messages out quickly and connecting with people who care—that’s what matters. Whether Refrm becomes widely used or just the first version of something better, I’m glad it exists.

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Check it Out...

Curious, click the button below to check out a preview.

Preview Refrm 👀

And if you’ve got questions about the build process, want to talk template design, or have feedback—hit subscribe. I’d genuinely appreciate it.

Thanks for reading this far. It means a lot.

Keep building,
Wig

P.S. Next template is already in the works. If there’s something specific you’d like to see for mission-driven work, let me know. I’m taking notes.