THE DESIGN
BRAND IDENTITY & WEBSITE REDESIGN
Turn PolicyWise’s strategic direction into a brand people understand, content they can use, and a website staff can confidently maintain.
RESEARCH / PRACTICEA conversation guide for evidence-informed decisions
ONE CONNECTED SYSTEM / BRAND · CONTENT · WEBSITE
01 / THE OPPORTUNITY
PolicyWise combines consulting with independent research. The brand needs to express that shared purpose while helping different audiences find their way.
The briefThe RFP calls for alignment of identity, messaging and digital presence after strategic planning.
Our responseTranslate the strategy into a positioning statement, message hierarchy and coherent visual system.
How we would check itTest whether participants can explain PolicyWise’s contribution and recognize its relevance.
The briefConsulting, research and existing resource platforms serve different audience needs.
Our responseOrganize journeys around research support, collaboration and practical knowledge, then connect existing platforms.
How we would check itRehearse finding a service, understanding a project and reaching an appropriate resource.
The briefThe brief includes governance, editable templates, CMS training and internal adoption.
Our responsePair controlled templates with named ownership, review rules and useful staff guidance.
How we would check itHave staff complete representative publishing and brand-application tasks before handoff.
Proposed responses to the RFP (opens in a new tab) and FAQ (opens in a new tab). The unpublished Strategic Direction and prior interest holder research become inputs at kickoff. We will build on that work and test the gaps.
02 / BRAND IN PRACTICE
A preliminary territory to test: a confident research voice with room for human context. One system carries the conversation from a report to a presentation, a social post and the website.
ILLUSTRATIVE DIRECTION / SUBJECT TO DISCOVERY & VALIDATION
RESEARCH / PRACTICEA conversation guide for evidence-informed decisions
DISCUSSION GUIDE / 01People at the heart.
Evidence in the conversation.
PRELIMINARY POSITIONING
PolicyWise connects research, data and community experience to help organizations strengthen the systems supporting children, youth and families.
VALUE PROPOSITION TO TEST
Bring the question.
Build understanding together.
Find a useful next step.
The name and official logo remain unchanged in this concept. Commissioned identity work explores three strategic directions, selects one and includes two consolidated refinement rounds.
“Explore what the research can help you understand.”
Explain the purpose before the method; keep qualifications and sources intact.
“Start with your question. We’ll identify the right approach together.”
Invite a conversation without assuming the answer.
“People’s experiences belong in the conversation alongside the data.”
Recognize context and avoid reducing a community to a statistic.
Sample copy and applications illustrate a method, not completed PolicyWise research or an approved identity. The three internal operating strands remain a discovery question for public brand architecture.
03 / LISTENING & LEARNING
Focused remote engagement during Alberta business hours. Existing research shapes the questions so we spend time learning what is still unknown.
Four staff, two board members and six external partners or clients. Explore perception, useful language, credibility and audience priorities.
Two 90-minute workshops, up to eight participants each. Resolve positioning choices and validate the selected direction.
Representative service seekers, partners and resource users. Test comprehension, navigation and completion of important tasks.
TDF prepares prompts, schedules sessions and synthesizes findings. PolicyWise helps select participants and makes introductions. Offer accessible meeting formats, prompts in advance, breaks, written responses and a choice about recording. Obtain consent and avoid unnecessary personal information.
HYPOTHETICAL EXAMPLE / NOT A RESEARCH FINDING
Possible observation: participants describe overlapping services using different terms.
Method: code interview notes into a theme matrix, retain conflicting perspectives and check the interpretation with PolicyWise.
Proposed decision: test audience-language service labels and a shared message hierarchy.
Validation: ask participants to explain the difference and find the relevant service. Record the decision owner and rationale.
Community-specific Indigenous engagement protocols and any specialist facilitation are planned with PolicyWise and the relevant communities before recruitment. A small sample does not represent every community.
04 / CONTENT THAT WORKS
Publication-ready content is a substantial workstream. We write for the person making a decision while preserving the meaning, qualifications and source behind the work.
SOURCE EXCERPT / POLICYWISE PROJECT OVERVIEW
“Sharing the right information, in the right way, can support more informed referrals.”Read the source project overview ↗ (opens in a new tab)
PROPOSED ENTRY POINT / SERVICE PROVIDER AUDIENCE
See how PolicyWise is studying service pathways and testing collaboration with community partners. Read the project’s reports to understand the approach and its context.
Explore the research storyWhat changesThe entry point names the audience’s task, preserves “can” and links the short summary to the fuller account.
What must be checkedA PolicyWise subject expert validates meaning, scope, terminology, source links and current research status.
Up to 30 core pages include publication-ready writing and two consolidated review rounds. Up to 70 existing news records receive cleanup and taxonomy; substantial rewrites are identified at the audit gate. TDF proposes a documented scope decision before additional work. Existing PDF remediation is excluded; retained PDF URLs are preserved or redirected.
05 / EXPLORE THE CONCEPT
Follow the working audience journeys. Each stop shows a design decision you can try now, with a clear boundary between this concept and contracted production delivery.
01 / WORKING CONCEPT Use “What brings you here?” to switch between research support, collaboration and resources.
Demonstrates audience-led guidance and clear onward routes.
Production adds validated messages, approved identity and managed content.
Try this journey
02 / WORKING CONCEPT Choose a topic, search the collection, try an unmatched term and clear the filters.
Demonstrates discovery and recovery when there are no results.
Production adds the approved inventory, taxonomy and CMS publishing.
Try this journey
03 / WORKING CONCEPT Read the two lines of inquiry, then follow a link to PolicyWise’s published resources.
Demonstrates context, readable structure and a route to primary material.
Production adds subject-expert approval, source stewardship and editorial governance.
Try this journeyThis preview is not a configured WordPress CMS, completed migration or Canadian hosting proof. Staff editing will be configured and rehearsed during delivery; no simulated dashboard is presented as a live CMS.
06 / RELEVANT WORK
Three completed engagements show relevant website and staff-workflow experience. Their specific contributions are described below; no traffic gains, financial returns or accessibility certification are implied.
PUBLIC WEBSITE + STAFF WORKFLOWS / 2026
The challengeConnect a broad regional mission to clear ways to participate and practical staff publishing.
Our contributionWebsite design and development, participation journeys, reusable communication templates, and ongoing staff and governance interfaces.
Delivered resultDelivered public experiences and staff tools for programs, membership and organizational communication; support continues.
A connected public story and staff ownership, both central to PolicyWise’s brief.
Visit DFWUL’s website ↗ (opens in a new tab)
WEBSITE REBUILD + CONTENT CONTINUITY / 2026
The challengeHelp a large community find its next step while preserving content and making routine updates manageable.
Our contributionWebsite redesign and development, content organization, calendar publishing guidance, staff copy editing and legacy redirects.
Delivered resultThe website and calendar are in active use, with staff guidance and continuing support in 2026.
Audience-first navigation, migration continuity and staff enablement during a website transition.
Visit St. Luke’s website ↗ (opens in a new tab)
PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATION WEBSITE / APRIL 2026
The challengeConnect members across Texas with training, registration, resources and relevant job information.
Our contributionWebsite implementation, training discovery, registration pathways, resources and job information, followed by ongoing improvements.
Delivered resultWebsite launched in April 2026. The training experience was updated in September with association-secretary review.
Turning practical information into clear, maintainable routes for a professional audience.
Visit CEAT’s website ↗ (opens in a new tab)07 / YOUR DELIVERY TEAM
The Design Factory is a Black-owned design and development studio. We propose a direct working relationship across creative direction, digital delivery and client decisions.
PROPOSED CREATIVE & BRAND LEAD
Creative direction, mission narrative, stakeholder alignment, visual-system oversight and executive review.
Founder / Creative Director. Project-specific allocation and supporting experience will be set in the final team schedule.
PROPOSED DESIGN & WEB LEAD
Experience strategy, interface design, web implementation, content coordination and release quality.
Designer and developer for the completed mission-driven website engagements shown above, including continuing staff support.
TDF remains accountable for the complete programme. Facilitation, senior editorial work, Canadian hosting/privacy review and independent accessibility testing require named assignments and confirmed capacity in the final submission. No unconfirmed specialist is represented as engaged.
08 / PRODUCTION & OWNERSHIP
We recommend WordPress with structured content and a controlled set of editing blocks. Staff own routine updates; the design system protects the quality of the experience.
Projects, news, people and core pages use predictable fields, previews and revision history. Define editor permissions and recovery steps around the actual team.
Three live, recorded sessions cover CMS publishing, brand application, and governance/measurement. Guides support future staff as well as the launch team.
Resources for Practice, Spark Guide, Board Portal and Softr remain external platforms. Discovery audits how people reach them and which handoffs require configuration.
Production includes an English-language website, preserved document links and retained-content redirects. Rebuilding external products and historical PDF remediation are excluded.
| Service | Ownership & decision | Evidence before selection |
|---|---|---|
| Website & CMS | PolicyWise-owned accounts; TDF configures the approved environment. | Canadian production storage, relevant processing locations, support access and vendor terms. |
| Backups & recovery | PolicyWise owns the backup policy; TDF configures and rehearses recovery. | Backup location, retention, access and a successful restore test. |
| Forms & newsletter | Select with PolicyWise after auditing existing WordPress list management. | Data flow, storage/processing, consent, retention, exports and deletion behaviour. |
| Analytics & reporting | Audit the existing Google Analytics property before agreeing the measurement setup. | Reconcile the selected service and configuration with residency and privacy requirements; do not assume current settings qualify. |
No production vendor has been selected by this concept. Selection requires current vendor documentation and PolicyWise’s approval of the data map. TDF remains responsible for its applicable Canadian contracting and administrative obligations.
Accessible experienceWCAG 2.1 AA target; automated and manual keyboard, focus, forms, zoom/reflow and assistive-technology checks. Record tested routes, issues and resolutions.
Content continuityApproved inventory, page-owner signoff, working source and document links, retained-URL map and verified redirects.
Reliable operationCurrent browser/device checks, agreed performance measures, integration tests, backup restore and rollback rehearsal.
Staff independenceObserved editing tasks, recorded sessions, written guides, account ownership and source/design-file handoff on payment.
Findability & measurementAudience-language titles, semantic structure, internal links, appropriate structured data and accurate source attribution. Establish a baseline for contact actions, resource use and task success; no ranking or AI-citation guarantees.
Routine updates: staff use approved report, presentation and social templates.
New campaigns or core messages: a named PolicyWise brand owner reviews the work.
Exceptions: a short decision log records what changed, why and who approved it. The shared asset index identifies current files and owners.
09 / THE DELIVERY PLAN
Start 26 October 2026. Launch 8 March 2027, with a buffer before the 31 March fiscal-year deadline. Work overlaps when its controlling decisions are approved.
Strategic-material review, interviews, current tools, analytics and content audit.
Decision gateApprove the brief, audience priorities, inventory and residency criteria.
TDF coordinates research; PolicyWise supplies materials, introductions and a decision owner.
Positioning, message hierarchy, identity directions and selected-system refinement.
Decision gateApprove the brand platform and identity direction before detailed production.
TDF develops and tests; PolicyWise consolidates brand feedback.
Core copy, news cleanup, page prototypes and reusable brand templates.
Decision gateApprove page content and priority journeys, with holiday reviews scheduled in advance.
TDF writes and designs; PolicyWise subject experts validate meaning and sources.
Approved Canadian environment, WordPress setup, content import and URL mapping.
Decision gateAccept content completeness, staff editing and external-platform handoffs.
TDF implements; PolicyWise grants accounts and reviews migrated content.
Usability, accessibility, browser testing, training and recovery rehearsal.
Decision gateResolve release blockers and record a named launch approval.
TDF verifies and fixes; PolicyWise completes user acceptance.
Managed release, operational handoff, defect support and adoption follow-through.
Decision gateLaunch before 31 March; document support completion after the 90-day term.
TDF supports delivered scope; PolicyWise owns accounts and day-to-day publishing.
The schedule assumes timely access, a named PolicyWise decision owner and consolidated feedback normally within five business days. Confirm holiday and TDF resource availability before commitment. If dependencies change, replan before consuming the launch buffer. The 90-day support period continues after launch.
10 / THE INVESTMENT
Excludes applicable taxes and third-party recurring costs. Subject to final scope and agreement.
Research and digital audit, 12 interviews, two workshops, synthesis and decision brief.
Owns research and strategic findings; content production is allocated below.
Positioning, voice, three identity directions, one selected system, two refinement rounds, governance and three template families.
Reports, presentations and social templates; campaign production is separate.
Inventory, page briefs, publication-ready copy for up to 30 core pages, two consolidated review rounds; cleanup and taxonomy for up to 70 news items.
Owns writing and editing. Substantial news rewrites are assessed at the inventory gate.
Up to 10 responsive page templates, structured WordPress editing, accessible components and external-platform handoffs.
Owns design and implementation; final content import and release verification are allocated below.
Content import, retained-URL mapping, redirect checks, six usability sessions, manual and automated accessibility testing, release and rollback rehearsal.
Verification and remediation of delivered scope; historical PDF remediation is excluded.
Three recorded live training sessions, brand rollout, staff guides, 90-day delivered-scope defect support and 15 hours of minor adjustments.
New features and ongoing support after 90 days require a separate agreement.
Planning allowance: CAD $3,600–$6,000 annually for hosting, backup/security and core software, subject to residency validation and provider quotes. Newsletter costs depend on volume. No vendor pricing or tax treatment is guaranteed.
Travel, translation, substantial new photography/film, external-platform rebuilds, historical PDF remediation and additional features/volumes are separate. Required specialist delivery must be costed within the agreed workstreams before the offer is finalized; it is not an automatic surcharge.
90 days cover defects in the delivered scope, plus up to 15 hours of minor adjustments. New functionality, substantial new content and support beyond the term require a separate agreement.
Discovery validates the inventory. Any proposed change to scope, cost or timing needs written agreement before additional work starts. Final commissioned design files, approved content and website source transfer on payment, subject to third-party licenses.
11 / RFP RESPONSE
Find the relevant response against PolicyWise’s published evaluation criteria.
Controlling documents: official RFP (opens in a new tab) and official FAQ (opens in a new tab), reviewed 13 September 2026. This is an independent proposed direction by The Design Factory, not an official PolicyWise website or an indication of selection.
THE DESIGN FACTORY / POLICYWISE
Explore the working concept or discuss the proposed approach, scope and delivery plan with our team.