UX Case Study: ACAF
UX Case Study: ACAF
Embedded Files
Role: Visual and Interaction Designer - deciding design elements and user flows before handing off to the developer.
Target: Francophones and adult language learners in Canada. Non-francophones interested in learning the language.
Goal: The Association Canadienne pour l’Apprentissage du Français (ACAF) website provides information and resources to individuals looking to promote and improve French language skills and meet other like-minded learners.
Final Design
Final Design
The ACAF platform was carefully crafted to bridge the needs of both fluent Francophones and curious non-French speakers, creating an inclusive digital space that celebrates French language learning while remaining accessible to all. Our design solution focused on intuitive visual communication to transcend language barriers, employing clear iconography, thoughtful information architecture, and consistent interaction patterns that guide users regardless of their proficiency level. The clean, content-forward interface eliminates unnecessary clutter while strategically using white space to reduce cognitive load, particularly benefiting those still developing their French comprehension.
Staying true to our high-fidelity prototype while allowing for necessary technical adaptations, we delivered a solution that maintains 95% of the original design vision. The platform achieves AA accessibility compliance for color contrast and optimizes performance with sub-2-second load times, ensuring reliable access even in remote communities. By balancing elegant simplicity with robust functionality, we've created a digital environment where language learners can focus on connection and growth rather than navigation challenges. The result is a welcoming gateway to French language resources that serves its dedicated community while remaining open to new learners beginning their linguistic journey.
User Research Insights
User Research Insights
Through targeted interviews with adult French language learners and cultural advocates, I developed empathy maps that revealed deeper motivations beyond the client's initial scope. While our research confirmed the core user profile - adults actively seeking to improve their French proficiency - it uncovered an important emotional dimension: learners weren't just looking for resources, but for community.
The study revealed that while practical language tools were valued, what truly engaged users was the desire for community support and motivational structures. Participants expressed frustration with isolated learning experiences and emphasized how peer interaction could sustain their language journey. This insight fundamentally shaped our design approach, moving us beyond a simple information portal toward creating spaces for engagement and mutual support within the platform.
The research validated the client's identified audience while expanding our understanding of their emotional needs - transforming our design challenge from merely delivering content to fostering a vibrant learning ecosystem.
The research revealed the following constraints and challenges:
Schedule Flexibility: Users need self-paced learning tools and flexible activity options to fit their schedules.
Financial Investment: With a community spanning Canada (and an intent to have a global reach) it is important to have remote-friendly services.
Digital First Community: Remote accessibility is essential to serve our nationwide community and support future global expansion.
Active Retention Ecosystem: Data-driven touchpoints and intrinsic motivators (badges, peer circles, progress tracking) that transform passive users into invested advocates.
Design Philosophy
Design Philosophy
The ACAF platform was built with intentional inclusivity, addressing both technological and linguistic accessibility challenges. Recognizing that our Francophone community spans urban centers and remote regions alike, we implemented a Progressive Enhancement strategy to ensure reliable access even with unstable internet connections. This technical foundation allowed the site to deliver core functionality to all users while progressively revealing richer features for those with better connectivity.
Language accessibility formed our second key design pillar. While maintaining French as the primary language, we crafted an interface that guides non-Francophones through intuitive visual cues and universal design patterns. The responsive architecture adapts seamlessly across devices, from smartphones in rural communities to desktop computers in urban language centers. Every interaction was refined to create frictionless navigation, ensuring users could focus on learning rather than struggling with the interface. This dual focus on technical and linguistic accessibility resulted in a platform that truly serves the entire spectrum of French language enthusiasts across Canada.
Wireframes
Wireframes
The transition from paper sketches to digital wireframes focused on distilling complex processes into effortless interactions. We maintained rigorous simplicity in our user flows, architecting an information hierarchy where all critical content lives either on the homepage or a single click away. This approach reduced cognitive load while supporting our diverse user base.
Our primary user flow - event discovery and registration - underwent particular refinement. We optimized this journey to just three intuitive steps:
Immediate visibility of upcoming events on the homepage
Clear call-to-action for event details
Simplified login/registration process that remembers returning users
This streamlined flow respected users' time while accommodating both frequent visitors and first-time participants. By eliminating unnecessary navigation layers, we created a direct path to engagement that aligns perfectly with ACAF's mission of connecting French language learners.
High-Fidelity Prototype
High-Fidelity Prototype
The completed high-fidelity prototype embodied our vision of elegant simplicity - a contemporary interface that balanced aesthetic refinement with functional clarity. Every interaction was meticulously crafted, from the intuitive navigation system to the streamlined event registration flow, creating a cohesive user experience that felt both polished and effortless.
Key refinements in the final prototype included:
Enhanced visual hierarchy that naturally guided users through key tasks
Optimized form fields that reduced friction in the registration process
Consistent design patterns that established familiarity across all touchpoints
With all user flows thoroughly validated through testing, we delivered comprehensive design specifications, assets, and interactive prototypes to the development team, ensuring faithful translation of our UX vision into the final product. The handoff included detailed documentation to preserve design intent while allowing for necessary technical adaptations.
View the ACAF Hi-Fi Prototype
User Test Results
User Test Results
Our usability studies played a pivotal role in evolving the design from wireframes to high-fidelity prototypes. Testing revealed critical opportunities to enhance functionality and accessibility, ensuring the platform truly met user needs. Key findings included:
Users needed more robust event discovery tools, prompting us to introduce a searchable calendar alongside the existing "Upcoming Events" list. This dual approach catered to both planners and spontaneous participants.
Recognizing the needs of non-Francophones, we added an English FAQ section—a subtle but crucial accessibility feature that lowered the barrier to entry without compromising the site’s French-first identity.
Beyond events, users expressed a desire for ongoing engagement, leading to plans for a member forum and expanded learner resources. These additions transformed the platform from a passive information hub into an active learning community.
Finally, trust emerged as a key concern—particularly around payments. Users emphasized the need for a recognizable, secure payment system, which we integrated to ensure confidence in transactions.
These insights didn’t just refine the interface; they reshaped the product’s vision, prioritizing community, accessibility, and trust at every stage.
Conclusion
Conclusion
This project reinforced how intentional, identity-conscious design can transform digital experiences for underserved communities. By centering the needs of Francophones while thoughtfully accommodating language learners, we created a platform that fosters both inclusion and cultural pride. Each iteration—shaped by usability testing and peer feedback—revealed new opportunities to enhance connection, ultimately expanding the site’s scope from a basic resource hub to a vibrant community space with forums and learning tools.
The final product delivers more than functionality; it builds belonging. Users gain not just language skills but a supportive network, all through an interface that prioritizes ease and accessibility.
A quote from user feedback:
“A vital resource for championing French—and growing our skills together.”
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