VOLUNTEER WORK // WEBSITE DESIGN

Website re-design: Indigenous Tutoring and Mentoring Program (ITMP)

Website Designer

Role

Riya Daiya (Me)

Figma

Wix

July 2024 - Ongoing

Team

User Research

Interviewing

Visual Design

Prototyping

Skills

Tools

Timeline

ITMP is an indigenous-led organization providing free tutoring and resources to indigenous students from Kindergarten to Grade 12 in Canada. They are based in Vancouver BC, and offer their services remotely. The key process to registering with ITMP would be through an application form, filled either by the parent or child over 13 years old.

It was reported that parents had difficulty in:

Navigating the website to find general information due to inconsistencies in design and structure, and
Locating the application form, especially because parents did not have much time in their day to go through complex processes of reaching the application form.

OVERVIEW

THE PROBLEM

THE PROCESS

MY DESIGN

Design inspiration: Pacific Northwest Coast Art

Navigation Menu design

Website layout design

I designed visual assets for the widgets while integrating indigenous identity

While designing the new layout, I made sure to not deviate too much from the existing core placements to not disrupt current users' familiarity, since the website also acts as the main point of contact between parents and ITMP.

Throughout the process, I explored muted colour plaettes to make reading and information processing less overwhelming. I also experimented with different form layouts to make the application process simple and quick, by adding instructions in simple language to reassure parents that what will happen after the form is submitted.

I integrated the Ovoid and U-shapes while also maintaining the visual familiarity of a button.

For immediate and direct access to the tutoring application form, I added a call-to-action button on the hero section of the home page, which smoothly directs them to the form that is located below on the same page.

Unlike the older layout, my re-design includes a hero section that introduces the user to ITMP and serves an advertising purpose.

Since ITMP did not have a concrete branding guide other than their logo, I was given creative freedom for the website. I used similar tints of colours, less in vibrancy and saturation to allow the functionality of reading painlessly.

I met with Indigenous executives and co-founders of ITMP to present my design decisions to make user experience better to increase program enrolment, and rationale to represent their identity on the website. I sought feedback while acknowledging that at the end of the day, I am still an outsider to their culture and art.

I got approval and positive responses, as well as feedback to use de-colonial written language.

During my research and meetings with members of ITMP, I expanded my knowledge on diverse art styles, and was able to recognize that modern graphic design heavily derives its principles from European design standards.

I also learned how to present my work to a dominantly non-design audience and explain my decisions to them in understandable terms. I also realized that people from non-design backgrounds may not act as design mentors and may not have depth in feedback, in which case I reached out to my designer network, continuously iterated my work and viewed it objectively.

This project reinforced in me the importance of respect and empathy for your client, and having strong resources to support your design process.

I conducted an interview with the Vice Chief of ITMP to figure out:

Various services offered by the website
The steps parents typically take to enrol their child in the program through the website. These steps were known to them through one-on-one phone calls and conversations with parents.

Artwork by Cascadia Designs

Artwork by Native Art Prints

Artwork by Glen Rabena

I found common visual themes of maximalism, contrasting thick/thin outlines and vibrant colours. Raven Publishing narrows down the analysis on these visual elements: