UX Website Design
Building a Digital Archive to find solidarity and form new
narratives
We worked with the Centre for Equity and Inclusion at the University of Sheffield to develop a virtual exhibition and historical digital landmark.
The digital archives were designed to be a living breathing peice of history that sparked dialogue and support throughout the university, but also as a global digital landmark of solidarity.
The Story
The University of Sheffield’s Centre for Equity and Inclusion embarked on a transformative journey to create the Digital Anti-Racist Archive—a pioneering initiative designed to be a powerful and accessible resource for documenting and amplifying anti-racist scholarship, activism, and cultural contributions. This archive is not just a repository; it is a living, breathing testament to the relentless pursuit of justice and equity.
Project Goals
1. Interactivity: Design an engaging platform where users can interact deeply with the content, explore connections, and participate in the ongoing dialogue about anti-racism.
2. Inclusivity: Create a space that truly represents and honours voices and experiences, reflecting the complexity of the struggle against racism.
3. Educational Value: Offer a robust educational tool that not only informs but also inspires critical reflection and action towards a more equitable world.
Research and Discovery
Stakeholder Interviews: Engaged in meaningful interviews and focus groups with stakeholders, including university faculty, students, and community activists, to uncover their aspirations and needs for the archive.
User Personas: Developed realistic personas that embody the user groups.
Design Process
1. Information Architecture: Designed a thoughtful and intuitive structure that guides users seamlessly through the chapters.
2. Wireframes and Prototypes: Created detailed wireframes and interactive prototypes to visualize and test the user journey.
3. Visual Design: Developed a striking and accessible interface that embodies the principles of equity and inclusion. Focused on high contrast, clear navigation, and a responsive design that adapts to all devices.
4. Interactive Features: Introduced interactive elements such as multimedia galleries, user-generated content submission forms, and comment sections to spark engagement and foster community collaboration.
5. User Testing: Conducted iterative usability testing with user groups to ensure the archive met their needs and exceeded their expectations, refining the design based on real feedback.
Sector
Voluntary and Community
Services
Discovery Activities including stakeholder interviews and focus groups
Web Brief
Style Guide Design
Mockup Design
Full Stack Development
Quality Assurance
Accessibility
Explore
Share
Development and Implementation
Technology Stack: Leveraged cutting-edge technology to build a resilient and scalable platform. Implemented a versatile content management system (CMS) for easy updates, a robust search engine for efficient content retrieval, and a secure hosting environment.
Content Integration: Collaborated closely with the Centre for Equity and Inclusion to digitize, curate, and integrate the exhibition, ensuring each piece was tagged with metadata to enhance discoverability.
Outcomes
– Engagement: The archive has become a dynamic hub of activity, with users praising its rich content, intuitive design, and interactive capabilities.
– Educational Impact: It has emerged as a vital resource for educators and researchers, playing an important role in advancing anti-racist scholarship and education.
– Community Building: The archive has supported a vibrant, collaborative community, catalyzing important conversations about race and equity.
Conclusion
The Digital Anti-Racist Archive is more than just a collection of experiences; it is a catalyst for change, a beacon of hope, and a testament to the power of informed, inclusive action. Through innovative design and a commitment to accessibility, this archive empowers users to engage deeply with anti-racist knowledge and drive the movement towards a more just and equitable society.
Whether you’re looking to create an inclusive website, impactful branding, or a community-driven digital campaign, our team is dedicated to crafting designs that reflect your values and drive positive change.
Together, we can build solutions that inspire action and transform communities for the better.