Public Sector Website / Case Study
TCHC Design Guide
What I wanted to solve
A housing website has to carry organizational news and help residents get things done. I explored a homepage direction that gives services, alerts, events, and public information clear roles within the page.
I focused on what people see first and how easily they can find their next step. Residents should be able to tell an alert from a news update, find a service, and get contact details without having to understand how the organization is structured.
My contribution
Experience design
I designed the resident experience, organizing service information, updates, events, and contact paths around practical needs.
UI design
I designed the homepage layout, navigation, cards, and alerts so residents can scan the page and see what matters to them.
Prototype development
I built the underlying front-end prototypes to bring the page structure, visual design, and resident service modules into the browser.
What I focused on
- Room for news and services
- I gave community stories and service links different treatments. Someone browsing the news has a different goal from someone trying to get something done.
- Alerts should stand apart
- I separated service alerts from general news. Urgent information needs to be easy to spot, even when the rest of the page has strong images and headlines.
- Help at the bottom of the page
- I included quick links, contact details, and accessibility options as useful next steps. Reaching the bottom of the page should not mean reaching a dead end.
How can a content-rich housing homepage make practical resident needs easy to find while still telling the broader community story?
How the flow works
- 01
Orient
Recognize the organization and identify the available service paths.
- 02
Check updates
Distinguish general news from information that affects a service.
- 03
Find a resource
Use quick links, events, or navigation to reach the relevant detail.
- 04
Get help
Reach contact information or an accessibility route when more support is needed.
Why I designed it this way
Separate the navigation jobs
I placed utility links apart from the main content categories. That keeps the header organized, while the active state shows where someone is without making every link compete for attention.
Header and navigationMake updates easy to scan
I used a consistent pattern of headings, dates, summaries, and links for news. Alerts have a separate treatment so an important service notice does not look like just another story.
News and service alertsGive each section a clear purpose
I grouped events, quick links, and plan information into their own sections. Clear headings help residents decide where to look before they read every item on a busy homepage.
Resident task modulesA closer look at the designs
I explore a website system for Toronto Community Housing, focused on making resident services, public updates, alerts, events, and civic resources easier to scan and navigate within a cohesive digital system.
Quality homes. Vibrant communities.
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Learn More
Regent Park Update
May 28, 2015Last year, the Toronto Community Housing Board of Directors endorsed a plan to significantly accelerate the pace of new rental...
Learn MoreRegent Park Update
May 28, 2015Regent Park to reduce the amount of time families are displaced. One year in, there has already been significant progress.
Learn More
Regent Park Update
May 28, 2015Last year, the Board of Directors endorsed a plan to significantly accelerate the pace of new rental...
Learn MoreRead our strategic plan 2013 - 2015
Regent Park to reduce the amount of time families are displaced. One year in, there has already been significant progress.
Learn MoreUpcoming events
- Youth Worx recruitment sessionsJune 9, 2015
- Board MeetingJanuary 22, 2018
- Governance Committee MeetingMarch 2, 2018
Quick links
- Online documents
- For rent
- Capital repairs
- Access to information
- Report fraud
- Policies
Looking back
I wanted the homepage to support both community news and practical resident needs. The design gives each a clear place, with service links and contact options alongside the stories. My priority was to make the page useful, not just give it a stronger visual identity.