Learning Designer |
Accessibility-First Learning Design| AI-Supported Workflows
Skye’s Instructional Design Portfolio
Cannabis Prevention Toolkit Website (CDPHE + CU Evaluation Center)
This project involved designing a public-facing website for the University of Colorado Evaluation Center (TEC) in collaboration with the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment (CDPHE).
The site supports a Cannabis Prevention Toolkit based on a rural Colorado prevention initiative, providing community leaders, educators, and organizations with structured, accessible guidance for prevention planning.
Tools Used
Web Design Wordpress Platform | Information Architecture | Accessibility Tools (WAVE) | AI-Supported Workflows
Category
Educational Technology & Web Design
My Role
Web Designer | Accessibility-Focused Designer
I was responsible for:
• Website structure and navigation design
• Layout and visual hierarchy
• Accessibility and readability implementation
• Organizing complex content into a clear, usable format
I collaborated with subject matter experts from TEC and CDPHE, who developed the toolkit content and research.
Testimonials & Feedback
This section includes feedback from clients, instructors, and peers, reflecting both real-world application and academic design validation.
The final website continues to be used as delivered, indicating alignment with stakeholder needs and expectations at the time of launch.
The Challenge
The site needed to communicate:
• Complex, research-based prevention strategies
• Community-informed processes
• Equity-centered and culturally responsive content
The challenge was to design a site that was:
✔ Easy to navigate
✔ Accessible to a broad public audience
✔ Respectful of language and cultural context
✔ Capable of presenting layered information without overwhelming users
Evidence of Impact
• Improved accessibility and usability of expert-developed content by translating it into a clear, navigable web experience
• Enhanced user experience through structured layout, consistent navigation, and readable formatting
Reduced cognitive load for users by organizing complex evaluation content into digestible, user-friendly sections
• Applied accessibility principles (contrast, hierarchy, structure) to support a wider range of users
• Bridged the gap between subject matter expertise and end-user experience by focusing on clarity and practical usability
• Supported a cross-organizational project by aligning design decisions with both stakeholder goals and user needs
Design Approach
I focused on clarity, structure, and guided navigation:
• Organized content into 3 core phases:
- Getting Started
- Learning from the Community
- Taking Action
• Created consistent layouts and navigation patterns
• Used visual cues (icons, callouts, sections) to support scanning
• Prioritized readability and logical content flow
The design allows users to either follow the full process or access specific resources based on their needs.
Accessibility in Practice
Accessibility was a key priority given the site’s public and community-focused audience.
Key practices included:
• Clear heading hierarchy for screen navigation
• Strong color contrast for readability
• Scannable layouts to reduce cognitive load
• Consistent page structure across sections
• Accessible organization of dense information
Accessibility was considered both in technical implementation and in how information was structured and presented.
AI as a Design Partner
AI supported parts of the design workflow by:
• Assisting in refining clarity and readability
• Supporting layout and structure decisions
• Helping evaluate user experience from multiple perspectives
All outputs were reviewed to ensure alignment with accessibility and equity goals.
Key Features
Equity & Inclusive Design:
This project required intentional attention to language, representation, and community voice.
Design considerations included:
• Supporting content that centers lived experience and community input
• Designing for diverse audiences, including rural and Indigenous communities
• Maintaining clarity around language use (e.g., cannabis vs. marijuana)
• Ensuring respectful and inclusive presentation of prevention work
Key Features also included:
• Structured 3-phase prevention framework
• Community-centered design with embedded quotes and examples
• Resource hub with internal and external tools
• Icon-based navigation for quick scanning
• Accessibility-focused layout for complex content structured 3-phase prevention framework
Outcome
The final product is a public-facing, accessible resource hub that:
• Supports community-based prevention efforts
• Improves access to research-informed resources
• Centers equity and community voice
• Translates complex information into actionable steps
Reflection
This project reinforced that accessibility includes how information is structured, not just how it is displayed.
Designing for public health contexts required balancing clarity, depth, and cultural responsiveness.
It also strengthened my ability to collaborate across organizations while maintaining a focus on usability, accessibility, and inclusive design.
