CAMH, Canada’s largest mental health teaching hospital, partnered with Zulu Alpha Kilo to modernize its brand platform. This transformation required migrating from an outdated system to a new, fully accessible digital platform, compliant with AODA standards.
Problem
The existing CAMH digital platform was outdated and lacked accessibility, hindering users from finding mental health resources efficiently. The rebranding required a new digital system that not only adhered to Ontario’s AODA standards but also simplified content management, supported multiple user types, and enhanced public engagement with mental health programs and services.
Solution
Zulu’s implementation team worked with accessibility specialists and a cross-functional team to code the designs of over 80 fully accessible components. The new platform was created with a modular, component-based structure optimized for various devices and breakpoints. We ensured compliance with AODA ‘AA’ standards, going beyond typical WCAG 2.0 AA requirements.
Key highlights include:
- Developed persona-based interactive prototypes to validate the user experience.
- Created a comprehensive Front-end UI Style Guide with live prototypes, enabling seamless collaboration and faster iteration.
- Ensured that every component adhered to accessibility standards, making the platform fully compliant and user-friendly for people with diverse needs.
Results
Accessibility:
- Successfully delivered a fully compliant digital experience that met AODA standards, improving overall usability.
Efficiency:
- Launched an MVP within 6 months, allowing for early content migration and feedback.
Component Library:
- Developed and validated over 80 modular components, reducing future design iterations by 50%.
Team
Collaborated with Zulu Alpha Kilo, CAMH stakeholders, and a multidisciplinary team that included a business analyst, Sitecore developers, and designers. This partnership ensured alignment across branding, content migration, and technical execution.
My Role
As part of the UX process for Zulu’s design implementation phase, I supported UX strategies, facilitated collaboration between UX and development teams to ensure UX consistency and accessibility compliance.
Process
Discovery & Research:
- Conducted stakeholder study to inform content structure for the component dashboard system.
- Identified key accessibility pain points and addressed them through AODA-compliant design solutions.
Prototyping & Design:
- Collaborated on modular, accessible component designs using Sketch, InVision, and Sitecore.
- Applied atomic design principles to support scalable component library.
Accessibility Testing & Iteration:
- Worked with accessibility specialists to test and validate components using AODA standards.
- Integrated user feedback to ensure that the platform was operable by all users, including those using assistive technologies like screen readers.
Implementation:
- Coordinated the agile development of over 80 components and dynamic landing pages.
- Ensured content migration aligned with AODA and optimized for user experience.
Conclusion
The CAMH rebranding project was a successful digital transformation, aligning CAMH’s new brand identity with a fully accessible, user-friendly platform. The collaboration between Zulu, CAMH, and our team resulted in a world-class user experience that not only met compliance standards but also improved the public’s ability to access mental health resources efficiently.
