For a charity dedicated to providing a vital safety net for music creators, a website is much more than just code and pixels. It is an essential storytelling tool, a gateway to financial aid, and a beacon of hope for creators navigating difficult times.

This Pride Month, the PRS Members’ Fund is proud to launch our Partners in Pride spotlight. We are celebrating the incredible team at Splitpixel—the digital agency that designs, builds, and hosts our online platform. True commitment to Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB) is not just a sentence in a mission statement; it is baked directly into our daily operations and our choice of partners.

We sat down with Splitpixel’s Studio Director, Ren (she/her), and Account Manager, El (they/them), for an informal conversation about tech, queer identity, human-centric support, and the transformative power of authentic collaboration.

The Partnership & The Work

Ilaria (PRS Members’ Fund): Can you tell us a bit about Splitpixel’s work designing, building, and hosting the PRS Members’ Fund website, and what it’s like supporting a charity that aids music creators?

Ren: “We started working together about three years ago. The website you had at the time already felt dated, a bit clunky, and quite restrictive. Something we find with a lot of organisations working in arts and culture is that they get stuck with functional websites that don’t tell stories well. For the PRS Members’ Fund, it’s all about the stories of how you’ve helped people. That’s what draws people in.

We wanted to build something that gave you the flexibility to grow, change, and adapt quickly—especially as we go through things like global pandemics and cost-of-living crises. Not long after we launched, you came back to us with a beautiful new set of brand guidelines featuring purple hues and sound waves, so we quickly re-skinned the site to keep it fresh and exciting.

From a personal standpoint, we are incredibly proud to have you in our portfolio. We have a lot of passionate music lovers in our team—and plenty of aggressive arguments about whether a band is good or bad! Being part of an organisation that steps in and supports jobbing musicians when they really need it is deeply valuable to us.”

El: “It was a great project for me to get involved with because I was quite new when the brand update came in. It was a really helpful way to learn how our sites are put together by seeing it pulled apart and put back together again. Especially because I’m friends with a lot of musicians who know the PRS name, it’s a really cool thing to shout about.”

Ilaria: We love working with you because you always find quick, creative solutions. What does a typical “day in the digital life” look like when supporting our platform?

El: “What I appreciate most about working with you is how hands-on you are. You want to get stuck in and learn how to do things yourself, like updating the navigation menus. A typical day isn’t me doing the bulk of the updates for you; it’s me leading, steering you in the right direction, and empowering you.

A lot of people get scared that they are going to break their websites. But we built your site so that you can’t really break it too much! You always know what you want to achieve and explain it clearly, which makes you incredibly easy and lovely to work with.”

Identity & Representation in Tech and Creative Industries

Ilaria: Pride Month is about visibility. How does your identity as queer creators influence your approach to web design, support, and building accessible digital spaces?

Ren: “In terms of the actual meat of the design work, we are creating platforms at the behest of our clients, so there aren’t always direct opportunities to “queer it up.” However, we are always on the lookout to see if things are as inclusive as they could be. We frequently make suggestions to help clients use language and imagery that genuinely projects an inclusive brand image.

Where identity influences our work most is the internal culture we create. It is incredibly important to me, as someone fortunate enough to offer jobs in the 2026 employment market, that we build a culture where people can show up, be entirely themselves, and do their best work because they aren’t hiding any aspect of who they are.

Digital and tech sectors are still very straight and male-dominated. Just being in the room, encouraging people to think differently, and making sure clients see a transgender woman like me on a call is a massive part of changing that landscape.”

El: “Having that visible standard is exactly what drew me to Splitpixel. When I was applying for jobs a couple of years ago, I noticed that everyone had their pronouns listed in their bios on the team page. It sounds simple, but it signalled that this was a safe, openly inclusive place for queer people to be accepted and embraced.

At my previous job, I wasn’t even out as non-binary and didn’t use they/them pronouns because I was terrified of how people would react or if I’d be tarnished for not being “the norm.” Little things like pronouns in bio pages and email signatures make an immeasurable difference in making people feel seen.”

Ilaria: The tech and creative sectors are evolving. Why is it important for agencies like Splitpixel and charities like the PRS Members’ Fund to visibly champion EDIB?

Ren: “If you want to create change and support everyone, you have to start with yourself. You need a diversity of voices, faces, and opinions so you are constantly thinking outside of your own experience and evaluating how your work impacts others.

Marketing and content are how you tell marginalised groups that your space is safe for them. If people don’t see themselves reflected in your organisation, they won’t know if they can approach you for help.

True allyship also means protecting your people over the bottom line. At Splitpixel, our founders, Charlie and Greg, have created a radically safe space. When I came out as a trans woman while working here, Charlie proactively handled all of my client communications and admin updates. Greg, a straight bloke from Yorkshire, will fiercely defend the trans community if anyone is disparaging. I’m able to be selective with clients we work with when there are ideological differences, because our agency values people over the invoice value. This creates a work environment where I feel valued.”

El: “People will genuinely surprise you with their kindness and support if you give them the chance. We work with a highly diverse range of clients—including heavily traditional, straight-white-male-led engineering and mechanical firms. But when you talk to people, you realise we are all just people. We laugh at the same things, and I know that if I were ever disrespected, our clients would stand up for me. There is still a lot of hope out there.”

Rapid-Fire / Fun Closing

Ilaria: To wrap things up on a musical note—what is your ultimate soundtrack or go-to music track when you are working on a project or solving a tough technical problem?

Ren: “Music matches my mood entirely. When I’m incredibly busy and stressed, I don’t want calming music—I want something really heavy and loud. I’ve been blessed this year because the American metalcore legends Converge released two albums in 2026 (Love Is Not Enough and Hum of Hurt). They are my absolute go-to band for navigating all trials, tribulations, and heavy workloads!”

El: “I’m the exact opposite! When I need to crack on with work, I need zero lyrical distractions. Lately, I’ve been listening to ambient instrumentals like “Chlorine” by George Daniel—just pure instrumentals, no vocals. Otherwise, I will put on K-pop. Because I don’t know Korean, the vocals just blend in as a happy, upbeat background instrument that keeps me motivated without distracting my brain!”

Special thanks to Ren, El, and the entire team at Splitpixel for keeping our digital community connected! You can find out more about Splitpixel here splitpixel.co.uk

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