Case Study: BC Operational Stress Injury Clinic
BC Operational Stress Injury Clinic wanted to provide assistance to RCMP and Military personnel who were experiencing mental health challenges and waiting on formal healthcare options. Rose Agency was brought in to create a comprehensive online resource. Through consultation and consideration, success was achieved.
BC Operational Stress Injury Clinic provides comprehensive clinical assessment and treatment services for veterans, active RCMP, and Military who are challenged with mental health conditions related to an operational stress injury (OSI). Rose Agency has earned a strong reputation within government and health services circles in Vancouver and the Lower Mainland. As a result, we were brought in to develop a comprehensive online resource that would help service-people manage these challenges while they awaited more formalized, prescribed care. The challenge was clear, and the task was accepted.
The Importance of Strong UX and UI in Web Design
The first step is often the most difficult for those in need of mental health support, so it was critical that visitors found the site welcoming and intuitive. If they got lost or abandoned their search, an important opportunity to provide assistance would be missed.
Rose Agency has proven experience in formally developing websites through a consultative user experience/user interface process. This site would house a lot of information, so it had to be organized in a clear, simple manner.
Of the utmost importance was understanding those who would be visiting the site. Who are they? How do they see themselves? What are they going through? If the site seemed contrived or disconnected from their reality, they would be unlikely to engage.
The result was a thoughtfully constructed resource that provides valuable information to those in need. Critically, it does so in a manner that is welcoming and easy to navigate.
Using Continuous Line Drawings to Connect
This website is very specialized, and we wanted service members that visited the site to recognize immediately that it was tailored to them. Rose Agency was tasked with providing a unique style to the site on a modest budget. One of our graphic artists answered the call, creating brilliant continuous line drawings of service people in uniform. The result respects the state of mind of site visitors as they take the step to access mental health services, balanced with a tone of optimism without splashy excess.
The RCMP, army, navy, and air force service member depictions had to be exact, so careful attention was paid to details of the uniforms. By focussing on uniforms, not faces, we were able to ensure that visiting service people of any race or gender would see themselves in the depictions. It was an important part of making the website inclusive.