Introducing…
Language revitalization through digital connectivity
A concept prototype developed over two months through the IndigiTECH Mentorship Program.
Anishinaabemod
How might we design a digital platform that supports Anishinaabemowin learning for urban Indigenous youth experiencing cultural disconnection?
Case study / UX
Timeline
April - June (2 months)
Role
UX Designer
UX Researcher
Tools
Figma
Project Overview
This project explores how digital platforms can support Indigenous language revitalization through community connection.
The app is designed for Indigenous youth and learners who may not have consistent access to land-based learning or community-led programs.
Challenges
For many learners, particularly youth in urban or displaced contexts, language learning can feel:
☒ distant
☒ inaccessible
☒ disconnected from lived experience
User Research
To better understand user needs, I conducted user interviews with Indigenous individuals in urban and on-reserve communities.
I concluded that access to language and cultural learning varies significantly depending on location.
It’s not just a language app, it’s a space for connection.
How might we design a digital experience that supports language revitalization while centering Indigenous knowledge systems?
Language learning is most meaningful when it is relational, and it is important for it to be rooted in community and culture.
⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂⠁⠁⠂⠄⠄⠂ ⠂⠄⠄⠂☆
Key Insights
Access to language learning varies by location
Urban learners face barriers to community and land-based learning
Language is understood as relational and lived, not just instructional
There is a need for culturally relevant, community-centered digital tools
How It Works
Community Feed
Users can post, share, and engage with others through language, stories, and everyday experiences. This creates opportunities for learning through interaction rather than isolation.
Designed to support relational learning and reduce the sense of isolation expressed by urban learners.
User Profiles & Identity
Users can build profiles that reflect who they are, their learning journey, and their connection to language and community. This encourages ownership and visibility within a shared space.
Supports culturally grounded experiences and reinforces identity through language.
Reflections
Designing as a learner
Designing this project deepened my understanding of how language learning extends beyond instruction.
Through research, I learned that language it is shared, practiced, and felt within community.
This project pushed me to think beyond digital solutions as tools, and instead as spaces for connection.
I moved away from standardized learning models and toward designing experiences that aligned with Indigenous worldviews.
It reminded me that design is not just about usability, but about responsibility.