Interactive Map
Custom CMS Development
Traces of Home
The Maple Ridge Museum & Community Archives has spent years researching the Japanese Canadian community of Maple Ridge — families who owned land, built farms, and were forcibly displaced during internment in 1942. Their goal was to make decades of archival research accessible to the public, and especially to descendants now scattered across the country searching for traces of where their families once lived.
Client
Maple Ridge Museum
Industry
Non-profit
Expertise
Art Direction
UX/UI Design
Data Architecture & Structuring
Custom Statamic Development
Interactive Map Web Application
Mobile Friendly User Experience
Maintenance and Support
Our Approach
Turning decades of research into an online experience as meaningful as the history it holds.
The museum came to us with years of collected research, a clear mission, and two very different audiences to serve: local Maple Ridge residents curious about their neighbourhood's history, and descendants in Alberta, Manitoba, and Ontario searching for their grandparents' farms by name. We became their full partner from the ground up — advising on all technical requirements, helping structure their archival data for the web, and defining user personas and journey maps to ensure the experience worked intuitively for both groups. From there, we developed the complete visual identity and carried it through every screen. UX deliverables included a full sitemap, wireframes, and a detailed map user flow, ensuring the interface was as thoughtful as the research behind it.
The Outcome
A deeply human archive, brought to life through an interactive experience that connects descendants to the land their families once called home.
We designed and built Traces of Home as a custom interactive map application on Statamic, where every parcel of land links to a family record, archival materials, and historical context. The interface is warm and considered — reflecting the sensitivity of the subject matter — while remaining highly functional. Users can search and filter by family name, neighbourhood, land ownership status, exile and return history, residence after dispersal, and occupation — each filter a deliberate design choice that reflects the layered complexity of this community's story, all within a seamless, intuitive experience. The final platform follows accessibility standards and is fully responsive, ensuring no one is excluded from this important piece of history. From the first conversation to ongoing maintenance and support, this project is a testament to what happens when technical expertise and genuine care for the subject matter come together.
