Government of Yukon - Mapping the Way
2023
Web Design, Rebranding
Role:
UX & UI Designer
Project overview
Mapping the Way (MTW) is a non-partisan public education initiative of the Implementation Working Group (IWG) made up of the 11 self-governing Yukon First Nations. My role in this project was to redesign their existing Drupal 7 website to better vision their mission: celebrate and raise awareness about the Yukon's modern treaties – the Final and Self-Government Agreements.
Challenges
Text-heavy pages
Lengthy text with minimal visuals made key information difficult to extract, overwhelming users and hindering effective communication.
Online resource libraries
Disorganized resources made it hard for users to find specific information.
Navigation & accessibility
The lack of breadcrumbs and clear navigation cues led to users’ confusion and difficulty in moving through the site.
Solutions
Culture highlight
Redesigned the website with First Nations' symbols and emblems to visually convey their stories with a focus on people and their vital relationship with the land.
Close collaboration
Maintained consistent and assertive communication with the client to ensure the design respected First Nations culture.
Visual history timeline
Created a clear and concise timeline to showcase all signed agreements by the First Nations and highlight key historical milestones.
Improved information architecture
Implemented Drupal's taxonomy capabilities to improve content organization and navigation, making it easier for users to find and access information.
Results
This redesigned website has successfully delivered a visually engaging and functionally robust platform for the Government of Yukon to promote its education initiative. It emphasizes honouring First Nations’ histories and their integral contributions to shaping Canadian identity. The website also serves as an inspiration to other First Nations, encouraging their aspirations for autonomy and self-determination.
Project Credit
Studio: Evolving Web
UI Designer: Yue Lu, Shane Collier
UX Designer: Yue Lu
Tech Lead: Dharizza Espinach Barahona
