Tân’si,
I’m Gabriella!
Graphic & UX Designer
What you’re here for!
Nice to meet you! I’m Gabriella Chartrand, a Métis Graphic and UX Designer who loves collecting books, playing interactive fiction games and watching random YouTube video essays about pretty much anything!I graduated from Bow Valley College with a Diploma in Digital Design, which I attended virtually due to the COVID-19 epidemic. It was a huge jump from overcrowded high school classes to attending classes via teams in my basement.After graduating from college, I still desired to learn more, so I participated in Les Femmes Michif Otipemisiwak’s Reach for the Sky program for Métis youth. During this program, I felt a stronger connection to my culture than I ever had before while also receiving information on how to be a better person and leader. I gained certifications for Indigenous Leadership skills from Saskatchewan Polytechnic and a Métis Women’s Leadership certificate from the University of Alberta.My curiosity for life does not end there as after I was finished with that program I took the next step of my journey to Indigenous Friends, IndgiTECH program where I was able to connect with more Indigenous cousins from all across Canada, and learning a variety of things such as; Digital art, Entrepreneurship, Land Based Learning, also diving deeper into topics I learned during my time at college such as; Marketing, UX Design, and Web Dev!Now, I am in the next chapter of life, ready to find a job to settle down in, hopefully still being able to satisfy my desire to always be learning something new in said position!Check out my resume here!
Indigenous Futurism - 2024
Cat Illustration
No More MMIW - Version 1
Genshin Impact Poster - 2023
Cat Illustration Journal
NMMS - Version 2
Earthly
Project Type
Brand Identity & Packaging Design
Role
Designer
Tools Used
Adobe Illustrator, Photoshop & Canva
Year
2023
Background: I worked on revamping a logo from my Bow Valley College days for a skincare brand called Earthly. The goal is to create
a distinct logo using natural elements.Brief: The task at hand is to craft a unique logo for a skincare brand that prioritizes natural ingredients.Demographic: The audience we're catering to is adults who are passionate about sustainability, natural products, and taking care
of our planet.Concept: The core concept revolves around capturing the essence of a natural skincare brand. Think eco-friendly vibes, incorporate earthy tones, and earthy elements.Keywords:
• Natural
• Colourful
• Fun
The Bruschetta
Project Type
Brand Identity & Packaging Design
Role
Designer
Tools Used
Adobe Illustrator & Photoshop
Year
2023
Brief: Create a visually captivating brand identity for "The Bruschetta," a culinary sanctuary blending artisanal bruschetta and cozy coffee experiences.Demographic: The Bruschetta caters to a diverse demographic of discerning food enthusiasts, ranging from urban professionals seeking a chic coffee experience to food connoisseurs eager to explore the artistry of gourmet bruschetta in a welcoming and harmonious setting.Concept: The Bruschetta is a culinary sanctuary, seamlessly blending artisanal bruschetta creations with chic coffee experiences, creating a harmonious haven for epicureans to savor.Keywords:
• Artisanal
• Inviting
• Savory
Indigenous Roots
Project Type
Case Study
Role
Interaction Lead, Designer & Grant Writer
Tools Used
Figma, VS Code & Photoshop
Timeline
November 2024 - January 2025
Introduction
Indigenous Roots is a Canadian non-profit that runs a variety of free and affordably priced programs for Indigenous youth, ages 12-18. In these programs, they will learn about traditional teachings, spiritual practices, history, connect to the land and create art all with a pan-Indigenous frame-set in mind.
The Problem
Many Indigenous people in Canada have an overwhelming feeling of disconnect from their culture. This notion comes as a result of intergenerational trauma caused by colonialism, specifically the more recent wounds left on Indigenous people from residential schools.
The Solution
Developing a website where guardians of Indigenous youth can learn about the free or affordably priced programs they can place their children in.
Goals
- Reach and support 500 Indigenous youth- Youths have a stronger understanding of Indigenous culture, history, and spirituality as compared to before going through our program.- Youths create strong bonds with one another and recreate a sense of community.- Make them feel more confident in their identity.- Help their older family members feel more comfortable giving reconnecting a chance.
Design Thinking Workshop
The very first step I took in this project was figuring out what to focus on.
Peer Survey
I created a survey for class members to partake in, about what type of things they would have liked to see as an Indigenous youth in a program made specifically to learn about the Indigenous culture.This garnered interesting and insightful responses that assisted me with creating more activities for the program to hold, such as:• Powwow dancing
• Quill art
• Finger weaving
• Birch bark bitingWithin this survey, I also learned that not everyone would be comfortable in a pan-Indigenous framework and would prefer for something more targeted towards their own culture.
Target Persona
I created a user persona strongly based off of responses received from the survey.
After creating the User Persona I designed Amber’s journey map to follow
Wireframes
To work towards the solution, I firstly started off sketching wireframes to get an idea of how Indigenous guardians could best learn about the programs.
First-Sketch
Final-Sketch
Final Designs
My main goal for this site was to display information in a clean, simple way that also had a friendly look because of the rounded corners so Indigenous guardians could get the information they needed about the program easily and fast.You will notice that looking at the initial sketches there was not a contact page planned. When I was creating a coded version (HTML, CSS) of the website, I realized how often I look for those pages when I am the consumer instead of the person creating the site.