Design Recommendations

As an outcome of the Design and Implementation phase of this project, we developed a set of design recommendations to guide future iterations of this work. These follow below.

Narrative Development and Multimedia Integration:

• Further development of the narrative and addition of audio and video stories.

• Add more interactive elements to the map, such as audio or video stories linked to specific locations, species observations, and images.

Community Engagement and Collaboration:

• Collaboratively develop creative and engaging ways to represent multiple (often conflicting) stories and perspectives.

• Increase community contributions and engagement with the tool, considering combinations of “in real life” events that feed back into the tool in a circular manner.

• Develop a creative handbook to support other communities in creating an ecocultural map in their location.

• Incorporate the SOS (Spirit of the Sxwo’le) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) into the narrative.

• Consider creative engagement through design to make the tool welcoming to Indigenous individuals and others, including elements like images of a longhouse, nature soundscapes, and gathering around a campfire.

Structural and Content Considerations:

• Develop ways to experience non-linear narratives, including through hyperlinking and weaving cross-cutting ideas/elements/dimensions into vignettes.

• Include the stories of the team through bios based on prompt questions to build trust with the audience.

• Consider alternative ways of structuring content rooted in Coast Salish culture, such as incorporating swirling, interconnected narratives and metaphorical weaving mats, as recommended by Indigenous Creative Director, Johnny Aitken.