Ace Anglia
Designing and developing an engaging and accessible website for a people-led organisation
Website Architecture / Website Design / Website Development
Background
Ace Anglia is a people-led advocacy organisation based in Suffolk, that works with individuals with learning disabilities and autistic people. They wanted to revamp their website to demonstrate the positive effect they have on the lives of the people they support. They needed the new website to be engaging, accessible and user-friendly for both their audience and their team members.
Objectives
The primary objective was to design and develop a website that reflected the values of Ace Anglia, showcased their work, and promoted their vision. The secondary objective was to create a website that meets Web Content Accessibility Guidelines (WCAG) 2.12 level AA. Additionally, Ace Anglia wanted a website that could be easily updated and managed by their staff.
Our Process
Research and Planning
We conducted thorough research to understand the needs of Ace Anglia’s target audience, including people with learning disabilities and autistic people, their families, carers and health care professionals. We also analysed their current website to identify pain points and opportunities for improvement. Based on our findings, we created a detailed website brief that included the new information architecture, wireframes, and timeline.
Design
We focused on creating a bright and engaging website that reflects the spirit of Ace Anglia. To meet the WCAG 2.1 AA guidelines, we implemented several key features such as high contrast between text and background colours, text resizing, keyboard accessibility, and clear form labels. To ensure consistency throughout the site whilst allowing for flexibility, we employed a series of content blocks that are easy for the Ace Anglia team to add content.
Development
Our development team used a content management system that was easy to use and maintain, making it simple for the Ace Anglia team to manage the website. We integrated an events calendar and news updates to keep the website fresh and up-to-date. We also ensured that the website was optimized for search engines, making it easier for people to find Ace Anglia online.
The Result
As a result of our thorough research, analysis and design work, Ace Anglia now has a website that will enable them to continue making a positive impact on the people they support. The website is designed to be user-friendly and simple to navigate, and it can be easily updated by their team. Most importantly though, the website conforms to the WCAG 2.1 AA accessibility standards.
