Designing a Digital Safe Space: Empowering Youth Through Knowledge
The Client
Family Planning Association of Sri Lanka launched Happy Life (happylife.lk) as a trusted online resource dedicated to empowering young people with accurate, reliable, and comprehensive information about sex, relationships, health, and identity. Rooted in a commitment to fostering healthy decision-making and personal growth, Happy Life’s mission is to create a safe, inclusive, and supportive digital space where youth can freely explore essential life topics and make informed choices about their well-being.
Objectives
The main objectives for the Happy Life website were:
1. Empower Youth:
Provide young people with the knowledge and tools to make informed, healthy decisions.
2. Foster Community:
Create an online environment that feels safe, welcoming, and inclusive for all users.
3. Simplify Discovery
Structure and present information in a way that is easy to navigate, without overwhelming visitors.
4. Encourage Engagement
Promote positive relationships and personal growth through interactive and accessible content.
The Challenge
Happy Life faced the challenge of addressing sensitive and complex topics for a young, diverse audience. The design needed to overcome several hurdles:
• Creating a Welcoming Space: Many visitors may feel apprehensive or anxious when seeking information on topics like sexuality, health, or identity. The website needed to instantly communicate warmth, acceptance, and safety through its design.
• Intuitive Navigation: With a wide range of content categories, it was crucial to avoid overwhelming visitors. Information needed to be organized so users could easily find answers without feeling lost or intimidated.
• Inclusive and Non-judgmental Tone: The content and design both had to reflect a supportive, non-judgmental approach that encourages users from all backgrounds to engage.
Designing a Digital Safe Space: Empowering Youth Through Knowledge
The Solution
We worked closely with the Family Planning Association to bring the Happy Life vision to life, addressing these challenges through thoughtful design and user experience strategies.
•Friendly, Inclusive Design:
The website’s visual identity uses a vibrant, soothing color palette and friendly fonts to create a sense of warmth and acceptance. Smooth animations and rounded design elements help build trust and put visitors at ease from their very first interaction.
•Safe and Supportive Experience:
The tone and visual elements are carefully chosen to foster a feeling of safety—making it clear that happylife.lk is a judgement-free space for learning and growth.
•Intuitive Content Structure:
Information is thoughtfully categorized and easy to navigate. We focused on clear, prominent navigation menus and logical pathways through topics, so users can find what they need quickly and confidently.
•Accessible for All:
The website is fully responsive and designed with accessibility in mind, ensuring that everyone—regardless of device or ability—can access content without barriers.
•Engagement and Community:
Interactive elements and opportunities for further exploration encourage visitors to keep learning, share knowledge, and connect with resources for additional support.
Outcome
The launch of happylife.lk has provided young people in Sri Lanka with a vital, welcoming digital resource. The site’s intuitive design, friendly visual language, and supportive content structure have made it easier than ever for users to find the guidance and information they need—empowering the next generation to make healthy, informed choices and build fulfilling lives.
