Switchboard is a local business support hub that aims to connect people with resources to grow their business at various stages of development. They came to SPARK with a pre–existing logo and brand concept that they wanted to extend into an online space. I designed an accessible, user-friendly and mobile-compatible website to help them start connecting with their audience.
It was imperative that the finished website needed to be fully accessible according to AODA (Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act) standards, as all websites should be. To achieve this, I carefully considered font contrast, alternative text, and proper tagging. The site was designed to be fully mobile-compatible as well, retaining its flair without sacrificing utility.
Using Adobe After Effects and Lottie, I started by creating an introductory graphic that demonstrates how the key stages of business development connect to each other. Along with the path moving through the stages, I also added some minor background cloud graphics to complement the design. The motion provides the page with some visual interest and encourages users to engage with the website by making it more approachable and friendly.
After establishing the main themes and overall visual direction, I worked with our developer to incorporate some additional functionality to the website. I designed a custom search form that allows users to easily find relevant resources, as well as a form for the resource providers to submit new information and educational material. Additionally I created a comparison page to help Switchboard clients understand their current position in the development process and what their next steps should be for their business.
