We’re so excited to finally share our work with Edith Cowan University (ECU) on transforming the Climate Justice and Resilience Toolkit into an accessible, user-friendly website.
Developed in collaboration with the ECU centre for people, place and planet, this toolkit helps community service organisations tackle climate justice and build disaster resilience.
From the outset, we worked closely with the project team and researchers, individuals with lived experience and community service organisations to ensure the website truly met the needs of the community. Every design decision was shaped by their feedback, ensuring that the tools provided were both accessible and practical.
Making Research Accessible to a Wider Audience
One of the biggest challenges was effectively communicating detailed research to community service officers in a clear and accessible way. The information needed to be simplified and made more digestible.
To solve this, we created an intuitive content structure that breaks down the research into smaller, more manageable sections. We incorporated content categorisation, summary pages, and interactive elements like accordion-style dropdowns and interactive tables of contents to allow users to easily navigate the information.
We also implemented structured testing phases with the client, where we reviewed updates, refined functionality, and ensured smooth content management before the launch.
Prioritising Accessibility and User-Friendly Navigation
With a diverse audience that includes people from remote communities, the navigation needed to be simple and intuitive. Accessibility was key to ensure that all users, regardless of ability, could use the site effectively.
We used high-contrast colours, clear text, and keyboard accessibility to support users with visual or motor impairments. Alt text was added for screen reader compatibility, and essential plugins were integrated for ongoing accessibility.
Useful Tools:
One Click Accessibility Plugin for accessibility features.
Coolors.co for generating accessible, visually appealing colour palettes.
Building a Dynamic, Self-Managed Site
Since the toolkit is a living project that will require ongoing updates, the ECU team needed a way to manage content independently, without relying on a developer.
We designed dynamic pages that allow the team to easily update content while maintaining a consistent structure. Customisable templates were also created to ensure new resources align with the existing site design.
Useful Tools:
Advanced Custom Fields (ACF) for custom content management.
Custom Post Types (CPT) for flexible content creation.
Key Takeaways from the Project
Collaboration – Working closely with the project researchers, and community stakeholders ensured the website met real user needs.
Accessibility – Prioritising inclusive design allowed the toolkit to support a wide range of users.
Flexibility – A dynamic, self-managed system ensures the toolkit remains useful and up-to-date without ongoing development costs.
We couldn’t be happier with the outcome of this project and the lasting impact it will have on community service organisations working on climate justice and resilience. By blending research, accessibility best practices, and user feedback we have created a practical, future-proof digital resource.
Want to learn more? Check out the Toolkit Portfolio or reach out - we’d love to chat!
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