Department of National Defence

DND

gordongroup has partnered with the Department of National Defence (DND) to complete a number of web-based projects and products. Our partnership began when DND selected gordongroup to provide our innovative thinking and web savvy to redevelop its Aircraft sub-site, the most-visited section of the Canadian Air Force website and a key recruitment tool.

We began with a high-level audit focused on usability, sustainability, design, accessibility, content and use of multimedia. Our recommendations were approved by DND and informed the redesign. Following the audit and our strategic redesign plan, our designers and web developers created a dynamic site that showcases the 18 aircraft that make up Canada’s Air Force. Through video, audio, graphics, images, illustrations, animation and 3D, users can explore and learn about the aircraft, their missions and the people who fly and maintain them.

gordongroup worked under extremely tight timelines for this project, putting in extra hours to deliver a top-quality product on time and on budget. The end result featured interactive audio and video content that would appeal to children (“Kids Zone”), youth and students, as well as links to more traditional content directed at educators, business and industry, media and other stakeholders.

The Aircraft sub-site earned much praise, and we continued to add new interactive components and other content through upgrade modules over time. Further work over 2008 involved redesigning the home page of the main Air Force website. Our web team created a clean, coherent look, and restructured the information hierarchy, offering users a more intuitive, engaging experience.

We also created a highly-technical, yet easy-to-use online educational tool: a simulated mission on Canada’s Globemaster military transport aircraft. Users get curriculum-approved lessons in geography, physics, math, and Canadian history while solving technical challenges and performing the tasks required of various occupations in the Canadian Forces.  

The simulation is fully bilingual and modular, so Air Force administrators can add, move or realign all elements. To create the training tool, gordongroup worked closely with multi-subject experts. Illustration, animation, 3D modeling, on-site photography, on-site interviews, extensive video editing and liaison with wide range of DND resources were incorporated into the final product.

More recently, in 2009, we participated in outreach activities for the Canadian Centennial of Flight by producing an interactive timeline application highlighting Canada’s accomplishments in aviation over the last 100 years, as well as a print booklet. The timeline is a multi-media hub bringing together historical data, photography, video assets, and links to Centennial events. The application is housed on a dedicated Air Force Centennial of Flight website.

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