One of the key lessons from this project was the importance of designing with empathy and intention, particularly when serving vulnerable or historically underserved user groups. I learned how critical it is to balance visual design, content tone, and user flow in a way that fosters dignity and respect. Every design decision—from language choices to interface hierarchy—was approached with sensitivity to ensure that families of individuals with special needs felt supported, not stigmatized. This reinforced the value of inclusive design and the role UX plays in building trust with users.

An eye-opening insight that emerged from our early user and market research was the vast and diverse nature of the audience—over 8 million people in Canada live with some form of special needs. This community includes individuals with visual or hearing impairments, mobility limitations, neurodivergence, developmental disabilities, and cognitive challenges. Understanding this wide spectrum was essential in shaping our design strategy. It highlighted the importance of building an inclusive, accessible platform that could meet a variety of user needs—not only for individuals, but also for their families and caregivers. This understanding directly influenced our choices around content organization, visual clarity, intuitive navigation, and compatibility with assistive technologies.

Designing for a diverse user base required moving beyond checklists to a truly inclusive, empathetic approach. As lead designer, I aligned UX, visuals, and strategy to ensure every detail—from typography to color contrast—supported dignity and accessibility. The goal was to dismantle stigma through intentional, human-centered design.

To assess early impact, I tracked KPIs across digital and print touchpoints. On social media, I saw a 198.7% increase in impressions, an 80% rise in 3+ second video views, and a 100% boost in organic reach—showing strong engagement without paid ads. I also designed a trifold brochure, and after an initial print of 150 copies received great feedback, demand grew rapidly, leading to a second run of 1,000—over 566% growth. These results confirmed the effectiveness of my content and design strategy.

A particularly fulfilling part of the project was designing the print media—from initial layout to final production. Bringing the digital vision into a tangible form was incredibly satisfying. I also valued the process of crafting accessible wireframes, with a strong focus on semantic structure, clear visual hierarchy, and inclusive interaction patterns to support users of all abilities.