Baker Reise is a Louisville-based, African American woman-owned business delivering high-impact web and graphic design for government and private-sector clients nationwide. View our SBA profile via DSBS and registration status on SAM.gov.
Explore our capabilities in detail by downloading our official Capability Statement below:
I’m Makesa Potts — a UX-minded web designer and problem solver who builds clean, intuitive digital experiences for real people.
I bring a blend of strategy, creativity, and technical skill to projects ranging from small-business websites to civic-minded solutions like Metro Detours. My work is rooted in clarity, accessibility, and purposeful design so your digital presence looks good, works well, and actually makes sense.
Makesa Potts
Designer & Problem Solver — From Websites to Real-World Solutions.
I’m Makesa Potts, a Louisville-based designer and problem solver with a passion for turning complex ideas into clean, functional, human-centered digital experiences.
I’ve spent over five years supporting government and government-adjacent projects while holding a Public Trust, and I bring that same level of precision, accountability, and care to every client I work with — from nonprofits and educators to small businesses and entrepreneurs.
My approach blends UX thinking, strong visual design, and systems-level analysis. I believe good design should make people feel understood, not overwhelmed — and every product, website, or workflow should be intuitive, accessible, and built with purpose.
I specialize in designing modern websites, improving user journeys, and helping organizations communicate clearly so their mission can shine. Whether it’s a full website build, a brand refresh, or a digital product prototype, I create solutions that look good, function well, and actually solve real-world problems.
Outside of job titles, I’m a creative, a builder, and a strategist. I value authenticity, lead with empathy, and I’m committed to making technology feel welcoming, not intimidating — especially for communities that are often overlooked.
If you’re looking for a designer who brings skill, clarity, and heart to the table, you’re in the right place.
UX-minded design, clean builds, and problem-solving that moves real projects forward.
A small business with the experience, compliance mindset, and precision required for government work.
A mix of UX concepts, civic-tech ideas, and real-world websites for nonprofits and small businesses.
Nonprofit services · UX & Web
Redesigned the ElderServe site so seniors, caregivers, and staff can find services faster with clearer navigation and mobile-first layouts.
Civic tech · UX Concept · Data-informed mapping
Concept civic-tech app that helps Louisville drivers reroute around blocked train crossings using mapped “hot spots,” rider reports, and a live Google My Maps layer.
Studio hub · UX & Gov-ready
Hybrid portfolio and capability hub that speaks to both UX/product opportunities and government-supported design work.
E-commerce Lite
Whimsical jewelry brand with PayPal-powered sales and a “message me” flow that pre-loads product details.
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One-page Site
Soft, flavor-first landing page with a tailored color palette and scrolling experience for custom cupcake orders.
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Food & Events
Bright, character-led branding and a simple site layout for a mobile beverage business working parks and events.
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Home Services
Bootstrap-based gallery site that separates kitchens, baths, and custom woodwork for easy browsing.
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Brand & Content
Chalkboard-inspired logo and site concept for an equity-focused education consultant with “Identity Shift” as the flagship workshop.
Visit Site →A few ways I’ve used UX thinking, branding, and web design to solve real-world problems for nonprofits, civic projects, and small businesses.
Civic-tech concept to help drivers avoid long train delays in West Louisville.
Problem: Residents lose time, money, and safety margin sitting at blocked rail crossings with no warning, no map visibility, and no coordinated reroute options..
Outcome (Concept): A clean, early UX prototype that maps train “hot spots,” turns community complaints into useful data, and outlines a simple three-step flow: Spot → Report → Re-Route.
UX exploration for a simple language-preference toggle for riders and drivers.
Problem: Riders and drivers who don’t share a common language face confusion, unsafe trips, and poor ratings.
Outcome (Concept): A profile-level “Preferred Language” setting and matching logic that supports real DEI goals without excluding anyone.
Turning an underused in-app button into better data for cities.
Problem: “Bumpy road” reports are being triggered at train tracks, not potholes — wasting data that could help with routing and safety plans.
Outcome (Concept): UX pattern that reframes the button as “Railroad Crossing / Track Delay,” unlocking higher-quality data for urban planning.
Helping Louisville seniors and caregivers find support faster.
Problem: Older adults, caregivers, and staff had to fight the site to find the right programs and contacts.
Outcome: A reorganized, mobile-first layout with clearer navigation, stronger calls-to-action, and easier paths to services.
Whimsy-meets-sparkle jewelry with a simple path to inquire and purchase.
Problem: Handcrafted jewelry needed an online presence that felt magical but stayed easy to maintain.
Outcome: A single-page site with clear sections, PayPal buttons, and a pre-filled inquiry form that includes the product image.
Fun, park-ready brand for a mobile drink business.
Problem: A growing beverage business needed a look that stood out at events and made it easy to see “what’s on the menu.”
Outcome: A bold, character-driven logo and Tailwind-based layout featuring menu highlights, gallery, and fast contact options.
Soft, pastel brand experience for jumbo cupcakes with custom flavors.
Problem: Word-of-mouth demand was growing, but there wasn’t a simple, sharable place to showcase flavors and photos.
Outcome: A visually driven landing page that pairs cupcake photography with clear flavor descriptions and inquiry options.
Strong, masculine brand system for a local tradesman.
Problem: Skilled craftsmanship, but no online home that matched the quality of Greg’s work.
Outcome: A stone-textured logo and Bootstrap-based site that makes it easy to browse kitchens, baths, and custom woodwork.
Full UX case studies (Problem → Insight → Recommendation → Result) are available upon request or in my capability statement. Email makesa@baker-reise.com for details.
Civic Tech · Hazard Intelligence · Pilot Concept
Metro Detours is a civic-tech concept that turns blocked trains, crash debris, and low-visibility corridors into usable intelligence for drivers, first responders, and city partners. It pairs a field-verified hazard index with a living reroute map built from real-world conditions.
Metro Detours started with real nights stuck at freight trains, crash scenes that never got fully cleaned up, and exits where lane lines vanish in the rain. Instead of treating those as “just how it is,” I treated them as data.
The result is a structured hazard system that documents locations, photos, and triggers across Louisville’s worst corridors — then connects that data to clear reroute options that everyday drivers can actually use.
The current concept shows how a small, focused pilot could start with 8–10 priority corridors and scale into a citywide hazard dashboard over time.
Together with a photo-rich hazard report and pitch deck, the map has been used as a conversation starter with local officials and potential partners around funding, pilots, and integration with existing city tools.
Ready to talk through a UX/product role, a website project, or a civic-tech idea? Reach out and let’s see if Baker Reise is the right fit.
I partner best with small organizations, nonprofits, and government-adjacent teams who need a designer that can think through the user experience, the visuals, and the technical details.
Things I can help with:
Prefer email? Feel free to send a direct message with a job posting link or project details, and I’ll follow up with next steps.
We’re Micro-Purchase Ready and P-Card Accepting. Download our capability statement or contact us for a quick quote.
Download Capability Statement