DBL Partners | Case Study by Smack Happy Design

Web Design (UI/UX)

DBL Partners

DBL Partners, a pioneer in impact investing, has spent more than two decades proving that strong financial returns and measurable social and environmental impact can go hand in hand. With over $1 billion in assets under management and a $600 million Fund IV, DBL needed a modern website that reflected its credibility, philosophy, and portfolio while supporting its mission to attract founders, partners, and co-investors. As part of their website modernization, DBL also needed an updated logo system that could be used consistently across digital and print platforms while retaining the integrity of their established brand.

What was the main challenge in this project?

The website was designed over 15 years ago, and wasn't mobile friendly. The DBL team's ongoing editing capabilities (bios, adding new portfolio companies, modifying website text) were relatively limited and unintuitive.

What was your solution or approach?

We worked with the DBL team to completely rebuild their website on WordPress with Beaver Builder, creating a flexible, mobile-friendly platform that’s easy to update and maintain. The redesign preserved DBL’s brand essence while modernizing the visual identity, improving navigation, and presenting evergreen content to clearly communicate their “no tradeoffs” philosophy. While we didn’t design the original logo, we refreshed it, creating higher-quality versions with improved scalability, clarity, and color accuracy. We also developed palette variations, ensuring the logo worked seamlessly across light and dark backgrounds, digital screens, and print materials.

What was the outcome or impact for the client?

The new DBL Partners website launched in just under 55 days, well ahead of schedule, thanks to strong collaboration with the client. The result is a professional, intuitive, and mobile-ready site that reinforces DBL’s leadership in impact venture capital, enhances credibility, and provides a strong foundation for future growth.