Project Overview
The Unama’ki Institute of Natural Resources (UINR) is seeking a website design and development partner to create the Two-Eyed Seeing Knowledge Garden Website – An Immersive Learning Journey.
This is not a standard website build. It is a story-led, immersive digital learning experience designed to help visitors explore and understand Two-Eyed Seeing (Etuaptmumk) — a guiding principle that brings together the strengths of Indigenous knowledge systems and Western ways of knowing.
The website will serve as a dedicated learning hub within the broader UINR website and will house stories, research, educational resources, and “seeds of knowledge” from Indigenous-led nature-based solutions initiatives. The aim is to create a meaningful, reflective, and accessible online journey for community members, educators, policymakers, practitioners, and other learners.
Scope of Work (Requirements)
The selected consultant or team will be responsible for designing and developing a distinct but integrated immersive website experience, including:
1. Discovery & Concept Development
- Engage with UINR and the broader project team
- Review vision, educational materials, and foundational content
- Develop user journeys and immersive UX strategy
- Translate the concept of the “Knowledge Garden” into a digital experience
2. Website Design & Prototyping
- Create site architecture, sitemap, and page/storyboard layouts
- Develop a visual and sensory design that aligns with the broader UINR site while still feeling unique
- Build interactive prototypes to test the immersive learning journey
3. Website Development
- Build the website within UINR’s existing platform
- Ensure seamless integration with the current UINR website structure
- Deliver responsive performance across desktop and mobile
- Design with low-bandwidth accessibility considerations
- Meet or exceed Nova Scotia Accessibility Act requirements
- Create a user-friendly platform that can be maintained in-house with relatively low ongoing subscription costs
4. Content & Multimedia Integration
- Create templates for:
- Stories
- “Seeds of knowledge”
- Learning resources
- Support multimedia content integration, including:
- Audio
- Video
- Imagery
- Provide content organization, tagging, and citation guidance
5. Testing, Launch & Knowledge Transfer
- Conduct user testing and refine the experience
- Optimize performance and debug issues
- Support launch and go-live
- Provide staff training and documentation
- Include post-launch support (to be proposed by vendor)
6. Collaboration Expectations
The selected team will need to work in a highly collaborative and culturally respectful process, including:
- Regular project meetings
- Working with educational and audio production teams
- Incorporating feedback from UINR staff and stakeholders
- Demonstrating an understanding of Indigenous contexts, knowledge systems, and Two-Eyed Seeing
This is a project where approach, sensitivity, and storytelling ability matter just as much as technical skill.
Key Dates
- RFP Issued: March 26, 2026
- Proposal Deadline: April 12, 2026
- Apparent Successful Contractor Notified: April 20, 2026
- Contract Start: April 24, 2026
- Final Completion Deadline: September 30, 2026
Budget
A fixed budget is not publicly disclosed.
Why This Is a Great Opportunity, and for Whom
This is a standout opportunity for creative digital agencies, experience designers, Indigenous-led studios, learning experience designers, and mission-driven web development teams.
What makes this opportunity especially valuable is that it combines:
- Website design
- Immersive storytelling
- Education and knowledge-sharing
- Cultural sensitivity and Indigenous context
- Meaningful social and environmental impact
It is especially well suited for teams with experience in:
- Story-based or educational websites
- Immersive digital experiences
- Cultural or community-led digital projects
- Indigenous collaboration and respectful co-design
- UX for learning, reflection, and engagement
For the right team, this is more than a website project — it is a chance to help shape a digital learning experience with real cultural, educational, and environmental significance.
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