Why Work With Us?
We’ll Make You Look Good. Your design needs are unique. Our network of creatives is ready to support any project you can dream up.
We’ll Make You Sound Good. Whether you have ten words to get your message across or ten thousand, our producers, writers, and editors can help you communicate clearly and powerfully.
We’ll Help You Do Good. We work with big thinkers committed to solving big problems. By employing design thinking, we can help you and your team amplify words and visuals to tell compelling stories that inspire real results.
Offers & Services
Square Lightning is a full-service communications and design agency providing branding, graphic design, and website development for nonprofits.
Feel Proud of Your Website
We can build you a beautiful, secure, custom WordPress theme or improve your multi-channel communications with a headless CMS.
Stand By Your Brand
Wake up your donors and get your followers buzzing with a brand refresh or a whole new look.
Fix Your Comms Chaos
We’ll organize a system of content, images, and talking points, so you’ll always be on-brand and on-message.
Wow Them With Video
Capture emotion, build trust, and turn complex stories into compelling calls to action with short- or long-form video.
Publish Like a Pro
With our Pro-Publishers Suite, you can level up your reports, white papers, and email marketing so your words and ideas cut through the noise.
Spark Your Social Media
Give your grid and content calendar a makeover with our budget-friendly Social Media Spark package.
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Russell Estes
PRINCIPAL / CREATIVE DIRECTOR
I am a native Southerner and a veteran of the creative industry. Prior to co-founding Square Lightning, I led the in-house design team at the Southern Poverty Law Center, a national civil rights organization. From magazine production to interior design, digital campaigns to demonstrative evidence, my team formulated and drove all aspects of the organization’s visual messaging, winning top honors from Communication Arts, PRINT magazine, the American Advertising Federation, the Society of Professional Journalists, GDUSA, and HOW.
I specialize in multichannel design, branding and identity, video production, and typography. My design philosophy is, “Let’s work together and do something cool!”
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Adrienne van der Valk
PRINCIPAL / EDITORIAL DIRECTOR
I’m a writer, strategist, and storytelling nerd with deep experience supporting mission-driven teams. At Square Lightning, I help organizations sharpen their voice, untangle their communications challenges, and tell stories that move people to act. I especially love working on big vision projects—whether that’s a rebrand, a website, or a narrative shift campaign that deserves the spotlight.
Before co-founding Square Lightning, I spent 15+ years working in and with nonprofits focused on social justice, educational equity, gender liberation, and anti-racism. I’ve collaborated with national foundations, community organizers, and scrappy start-ups, always centering clarity, connection, and impact.
When I’m not deep in a doc or a design sprint, you’ll find me meditating, mentoring sober women, podcasting, or chasing the perfect latte.
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Leanne Naramore
SPECIAL PROJECTS COORDINATOR
I’m a project manager, social media strategist, and SEO / website consultant. At Square Lightning, I primarily serve as a project manager for website builds and manage the agency’s administrative work. I have 13 years of experience building social and digital audiences for national nonprofit organizations, including the Natural Resources Defense Council, Media Matters for America, and the Southern Poverty Law Center.
I am committed to working with mission-driven organizations to tell powerful stories that engage existing and new target audiences. Outside of work, I love watching women’s soccer, playing with my dog, Lou, and cooking comfort food meals for my partner and friends.
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Marc Redmond
FULL-STACK DEVELOPER
I’m a web developer and strategist with a background in physics and a passion for mission-driven tech. At Square Lightning, I help nonprofit teams translate their goals into performant, user-friendly websites—balancing custom design, content strategy, and modern development frameworks. I especially enjoy choosing the right technical stack for each project, whether that means WordPress or headless CMS solutions like Sanity or Strapi.
Before joining Square Lightning, I led my own agency, KNOWN, where we partnered with dozens of clients, ranging from grassroots orgs to international nonprofits like the Internet Society and Equality Virginia. I also currently serve as the lead developer at the VCU Center on Society and Health, where we build interactive data tools for clients such as the Virginia Department of Health, utilizing Next.js and Sanity.
I believe great web experiences are built through close collaboration, thoughtful architecture, and systems that empower clients to manage content with confidence. My approach is hands-on, adaptive, and grounded in years of experience working across both technical and activist spaces.
Outside of work, I’m usually tinkering with robotics, 3D printing prototypes, or working on side projects that blend hardware and software.