Understanding NIHRC's vision
From the outset, the Commission wanted a website that reflected the importance of its work while providing a straightforward and welcoming experience for a broad range of audiences. As a key source of human rights information in Northern Ireland, the website needed to make a significant volume of content easy to navigate and understand.
Visitors may arrive looking for advice and guidance, publications and research, information about their rights, or details about the Commission's latest work. Creating clear routes through that information was therefore central to the project.
Accessibility has been crucial throughout our work together. Rather than treating it as a consideration at the end of a project, accessibility has informed the design, development and ongoing evolution of the website from the beginning.
Designing a considered, inclusive user experience
Our design process centred on understanding the different journeys people take through the NIHRC website and making their most important tasks as intuitive as possible, whether they are learning about their rights or seeking important guidance.
With a large and growing library of publications, we created an intuitive resource search that helps users quickly find the information most relevant to them. Clear filtering and search tools make it easier to navigate a significant volume of content without overwhelming the user.
When creating the visual design for the site, our aim was to balance clarity and authority with a warm, welcoming look and feel, creating an inclusive digital environment that helps users feel comfortable finding the information and support they need.
Given the nature of the organisation and the reach of its audience, accessible design was fundamental to every decision, from clear content hierarchies and navigation to typography, contrast and interaction. We also designed responsively from the outset, ensuring the experience remained clear and easy to use across mobile, tablet and desktop.
Behind the scenes, the website is powered by Craft CMS, giving the NIHRC team a straightforward and flexible way to manage their content. Resources, pages and other key information can be easily added and updated by the internal team, helping them keep the website accurate and relevant.
An intuitive platform for those who need it
The result is an ongoing digital partnership focused not simply on maintaining a website, but on ensuring an important public resource remains accessible, intuitive and effective for the people who need it.
We continue to work closely with the Commission to identify improvements, respond to changing requirements and maintain high standards of digital accessibility. This includes supporting the organisation through the rigorous testing and improvements required to secure and maintain its DAC accreditation.