Client

Real supports young people across Aotearoa through mental health and wellbeing services, helping taiohi and whānau access the support they need.

Problem

Finding mental health support shouldn’t be difficult, especially for young people who may already be unsure where to start. The challenge was creating a website that felt relevant and welcoming to a younger audience while making services, locations and pathways to support easier to find and understand.

Strategic framing

Get young people and whānau looking for wellbeing support who need clear, relevant guidance to find the information and services right for them, by creating an approachable, youth-focused experience with clear navigation and support pathways, so they can take the next step with greater confidence.

Solution

Working directly with Real and its in-house development team, we refined the website structure, simplified navigation and developed a refreshed UX and UI across desktop and mobile.

We brought services, locations, stories and support pathways into a more connected experience, balancing a youthful, culturally grounded visual identity with the clarity, accessibility and trust needed for mental health information.

WEBSITE LAUNCHED JUNE 2024

Design System

Real needed a visual language that felt approachable to young people while remaining trustworthy, clear and connected to Aotearoa.

Forest and Manuka anchor a palette drawn from the natural world, supported by sea greens, blush and warm earth tones. Ubuntu provides a straightforward type hierarchy, while rounded controls and the distinct “Get help now” action give users clear next steps.

The system needed to work across services, locations, stories and recruitment, bringing consistency to different content and audiences without losing warmth or personality.

UX Strategy & Design

The challenge wasn’t simply presenting information about Real. It was helping young people and whānau understand what support was available, where to find it and what to do next.

The website served different needs, from finding local services and urgent-help information to exploring Real’s impact or joining the organisation. Each pathway needed to feel clear and accessible, especially on mobile.

That collaboration shaped the experience around relevant content, simpler navigation and a welcoming visual language that respected the sensitivity of youth mental health.