Introduction
Empathic Design ("I," "me," or "my") is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how I collect, use, disclose, and safeguard your information when you visit empathic.works, engage my design services, or interact with me in any capacity. By using my services or website, you consent to the practices described in this policy.
Information I Collect
Information You Provide
I collect information you voluntarily provide to me, including:
Contact information (name, email address, phone number, company name)
Business information shared during discovery calls and engagements (revenue data, funnel metrics, checkout data)
Payment and billing information (processed securely by third-party payment providers, such as Stripe)
Communications (emails, form submissions, feedback, and meeting notes)
Information Collected Automatically
When you visit our website, we may automatically collect:
Device and browser information (browser type, operating system, screen resolution)
Log data (IP address, pages visited, referring URLs, access times)
Cookie and tracking data (session identifiers, preferences, analytics data)
Information From Third Parties
I may receive information about you from third-party sources such as LinkedIn, business directories, or referral partners, limited to professional contact information and publicly available business data.
How I Use Your Information
Service Delivery
I use your information to:
Deliver and manage your audit or design engagement
Communicate with you about scheduling, deliverables, and project status
Process payments and maintain accurate billing records
Respond to your inquiries and provide support
Business Operations
I also use your information to:
Improve my website and client experience
Send relevant updates or insights, if you've opted in
Analyze website traffic and usage patterns
Comply with legal obligations and protect my legitimate business interests
Cookies and Tracking
Types of Cookies
My website uses the following types of cookies:
Essential cookies required for basic website functionality
Analytics cookies to understand how visitors interact with the site (e.g., Google Analytics or similar)
Preference cookies to remember your settings and choices
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may limit some site features. I do not use cookies for targeted advertising.
Managing Cookies
You can control cookies through your browser settings. Disabling certain cookies may limit your ability to use some features of our website. I do not use cookies for targeted advertising.
Data Sharing and Disclosure
Service Providers
I may share your information with trusted third-party providers who help me with website hosting, payment processing, email and communication tools, and analytics. These providers are contractually obligated to protect your information and may only use it to perform services on my behalf.
Legal Requirements
I may disclose your information if required by law, court order, or government request, or if I believe disclosure is necessary to protect my rights, your safety, or the safety of others.
Business Transfers
If Empathic Design LLC is ever acquired, sold, or restructured, your information may be transferred as part of that transaction. You'll be notified of any such change and any choices available to you.
No Sale of Personal Information
I do not sell, rent, or trade your personal information to third parties for marketing purposes.
Data Security
Security Measures
I implement appropriate technical and organizational measures to protect your information, including encryption of data in transit and at rest, secure access controls, restricted access on a need-to-know basis, and regular review of my data practices.
Confidential client data: Business information shared during engagements is treated as confidential and is subject to the confidentiality provisions in my Services Agreement and any applicable Statement of Work.
Confidential Client Data
Business information shared during consulting engagements is treated as confidential and is subject to the confidentiality provisions outlined in our Terms of Service and any applicable Statement of Work.
Data Retention
Retention Periods
Client engagement data is retained for the duration of the engagement and for up to 3 years afterward, for reference and legal compliance
Website analytics data is retained for up to 26 months
Payment records are retained as required by applicable tax and accounting regulations
Marketing communications data is retained until you unsubscribe or request deletion
Your Rights
Access and Control
Depending on your jurisdiction, you may have the right to:
Access the personal information I hold about you
Request correction of inaccurate or incomplete information
Request deletion of your personal information
Object to or restrict certain processing activities
Request a portable copy of your data
Withdraw consent for marketing communications at any time
Exercising Your Rights
To exercise any of these rights, contact me at ryan@empathic.works. I'll respond within 30 days and may need to verify your identity before processing certain requests.
International Data Transfers
If you're located outside the United States, your information may be transferred to and processed in the United States or other countries where my service providers operate. Appropriate safeguards are in place through standard contractual clauses or other legally recognized transfer mechanisms.
Children's Privacy
My services are designed for businesses and professionals. I do not knowingly collect personal information from individuals under the age of 16. If I become aware that I've collected information from a minor, I'll take steps to delete it promptly.
Changes to This Policy
I may update this Privacy Policy periodically to reflect changes in my practices or applicable laws. I'll notify you of material changes by posting the updated policy on this website and updating the effective date. For active clients, I'll also provide notice via email.
Contact Us
If you have questions or concerns about this Privacy Policy or my data practices, please contact me at ryan@empathic.works.
