Native Ed

The stakeholder interviews I conducted revealed two distinct use cases: educators needed quick access to classroom-ready materials, while students and lifelong learners preferred exploring through narratives and cultural connections. This insight shaped our core design: an easy search experience for time-pressed teachers, and an interactive map that would serve as an immersive entry point to explore resources.

Using our research insights, I designed an information architecture that allowed for quick and easy search capabilities. Users can find resources by topic, person, tribe, location, time period, or age group, catering to various research and learning approaches. To complement the catalog, I designed and illustrated an interactive map, enabling users to discover resources by both modern state boundaries and historical cultural regions, creating an engaging way to explore Native American history and culture.

The visual design and branding celebrates Native American cultures. I developed a rich color palette inspired by natural materials—turquoise, yellow ochre, earth tones, and vibrant florals. My custom illustrations bring to life diverse cultural elements, from traditional dwellings and foods to musical instruments and landscapes, while hand-drawn icons add an artisanal touch to navigation. At the heart of the brand identity is a logo inspired by turtle petroglyphs, symbolizing wisdom in indigenous cultures.

This project reinforced the importance of cultural sensitivity in design. It also highlighted the value of close collaboration with subject matter experts and diverse user groups throughout the process. Native Ed has set a new standard for educational resources in this field, showing how thoughtful design can bridge cultural gaps and create meaningful learning experiences.