Expert UI/UX Design Services in Canada | Bilingual Digital Design Agency

Big0 delivers world-class UI/UX design services across Canada, specializing in bilingual experiences that serve both English and French-speaking users. Our Canadian design team understands the unique requirements of the Canadian market, from AODA accessibility compliance in Ontario to the cultural nuances of French-Canadian design preferences. Whether you're building a bilingual government portal, a national banking app, or a consumer product for the Canadian market, we create designs that resonate with Canadian users from coast to coast.

With design studios in Toronto, Montreal, and Vancouver, we serve clients across all provinces and territories, delivering designs that meet Canadian accessibility standards (WCAG 2.0 Level AA), comply with the Official Languages Act for federal clients, and reflect the diverse cultural landscape of Canada.

Why Canadian Businesses Choose Big0 for Design Services

Bilingual Design Expertise (English/French)

True Bilingual Design, Not Just Translation Our Montreal-based design team includes native French speakers who understand the cultural and linguistic nuances of French-Canadian design. We don't just translate English designs—we create parallel design experiences that feel native to both English and French-speaking Canadians. This includes proper French-Canadian terminology, culturally appropriate imagery, and design patterns that resonate with Quebec and francophone communities.

Official Languages Act Compliance For federal government clients and federally regulated industries, we ensure full compliance with the Official Languages Act, creating equal-quality experiences in both official languages. Our designs meet Treasury Board accessibility standards and follow the GC Design System guidelines for government digital services.

Language Toggle UX Best Practices We implement intuitive language switching that maintains user context, preserves form data, and provides seamless transitions between English and French. Our language toggles follow Canadian government best practices and user testing insights from bilingual Canadian audiences.

AODA and WCAG 2.0 Accessibility Compliance

Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act (AODA) Ontario businesses must comply with AODA requirements for digital accessibility. We design to WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards, ensuring your digital products are accessible to all Canadians, including those with visual, auditory, motor, and cognitive disabilities. Our accessibility testing includes screen readers, keyboard navigation, color contrast verification, and assistive technology compatibility.

Provincial Accessibility Standards Beyond AODA, we understand accessibility requirements across all provinces, including Manitoba's Accessibility for Manitobans Act, Nova Scotia's Accessibility Act, and British Columbia's Accessible BC Act. Our designs meet or exceed requirements in all Canadian jurisdictions.

Inclusive Design for Diverse Abilities We follow inclusive design principles that benefit all users, not just those with disabilities. This includes clear navigation, readable typography, sufficient color contrast, and flexible interfaces that adapt to user preferences and assistive technologies.

Canadian Government and Public Sector Design

GC Design System and WET-BOEW Integration

Canada.ca Design Standards For federal government projects, we implement the Canada.ca design standards and the GC Design System, ensuring consistency with government digital services. We're experienced with the Web Experience Toolkit (WET-BOEW), implementing mandatory elements like the Canada wordmark, breadcrumb navigation, and bilingual templates.

Provincial Government Design Systems We work with provincial design systems including Ontario's design standards, Quebec's government web standards (PIV - Programme d'identité visuelle), and BC's design system for government services. Our team understands the unique requirements and approval processes for government digital projects.

User Research with Canadian Citizens We conduct user research specifically with Canadian citizens, understanding how diverse populations across provinces interact with government services. Our research methods comply with federal and provincial privacy requirements, including proper consent procedures and data handling.

Financial Services Design Excellence

Digital Banking for Canadian Banks Canada's banking sector demands exceptional user experience combined with enterprise-grade security. We design mobile banking apps, online banking portals, and financial management tools for Canada's Big Five banks and credit unions across the country. Our designs balance sophisticated functionality with intuitive interfaces that build trust with Canadian consumers.

OSFI Compliance and Financial Regulations Our financial services designs consider OSFI (Office of the Superintendent of Financial Institutions) regulations, FINTRAC requirements, and provincial securities regulations. We understand the compliance needs of federally regulated financial institutions and design interfaces that facilitate regulatory reporting and audit trails.

Fintech and Digital Payment Experiences From Interac-powered payment flows to emerging fintech solutions, we design financial experiences tailored to Canadian payment preferences. This includes credit card processing, Interac e-Transfer integration, digital wallets, and emerging real-time payment solutions coming with Payments Canada's Real-Time Rail.

Industry-Specific Design Solutions

Healthcare and Telemedicine Design

Provincial Health System Integration Each Canadian province operates its own health system with unique requirements. We design patient portals, telemedicine platforms, and healthcare management systems that integrate with provincial health cards (OHIP, RAMQ, MSP, etc.) and meet provincial privacy requirements including PHIPA (Ontario), HIA (Alberta), and PHIPAA (Manitoba).

Bilingual Patient Experiences Healthcare information must be accessible in both official languages. We design patient-facing applications with full bilingual support, including medical terminology that's accurate in both English and French-Canadian contexts. Our designs consider health literacy levels across diverse Canadian populations.

Accessibility for Aging Populations Canadian demographics include significant aging populations who may have vision, hearing, or motor challenges. We design healthcare interfaces with larger touch targets, clear typography, high contrast options, and simplified workflows suitable for elderly users while remaining sophisticated enough for younger digital natives.

Retail and E-commerce Design

Canadian Consumer Preferences Canadian consumers have distinct preferences shaped by our multicultural society, seasonal climate extremes, and cross-border shopping behaviors. We design e-commerce experiences that reflect Canadian shopping habits, including preference for transparent pricing (taxes included), Canadian currency defaults, and shipping expectations for vast geographic distances.

Bilingual Product Catalogs and Content Retail success in Canada requires excellent French-language experiences, especially for Quebec consumers who strongly prefer French-language commerce. We design product catalogs, checkout flows, and customer service interfaces that work seamlessly in both languages, including proper handling of size conversions, product descriptions, and marketing content.

Canadian Payment Methods and Trust Signals We integrate Canadian-preferred payment methods including major credit cards, Interac Online, and increasingly digital wallets. Our designs prominently display Canadian trust signals like BBB accreditation, Canadian business registration, and clear privacy policies that reference PIPEDA compliance.

Education Technology (EdTech) Design

K-12 and Higher Education Platforms We design learning management systems, student information systems, and educational apps for Canadian schools and universities. Our designs comply with provincial education standards, accommodate diverse learning styles, and support both English and French instruction across Canada's dual education systems.

Indigenous Education and Cultural Sensitivity For educational platforms serving Indigenous communities, we incorporate culturally appropriate design elements, work with Indigenous educators and knowledge keepers, and ensure our designs respect Indigenous languages, teaching methods, and cultural protocols.

Accessibility for Diverse Learners Educational technology must serve students with diverse abilities and learning styles. We implement Universal Design for Learning (UDL) principles, creating flexible interfaces that support multiple means of representation, engagement, and expression.

Design Services Across Canadian Cities

Toronto Design Services

Canada's Financial and Tech Hub Toronto is Canada's largest tech ecosystem and financial center, home to major banks, fintech startups, and enterprise software companies. Our Toronto design team specializes in:

• Financial Services Design: Mobile banking, investment platforms, insurance portals
• Enterprise SaaS Design: B2B software for Canadian and international markets
• Healthtech Design: Patient portals, telemedicine, healthcare management systems
• Retail and E-commerce: Omnichannel experiences for Canadian retailers

Toronto businesses benefit from our understanding of the diverse, multicultural user base and the city's position as a gateway to US markets while maintaining Canadian identity.

Montreal Design Services

Bilingual Design Capital Montreal is Canada's bilingual design center and a global hub for creative industries, gaming, and AI research. Our Montreal design team offers:

• French-First Design: Authentic French-Canadian user experiences
• Gaming and Entertainment: UI/UX for games, streaming, digital media
• AI Product Design: Interfaces for machine learning and AI applications
• Creative Industry Tools: Design software, creative platforms, agency tools

Montreal clients receive designs that authentically connect with French-speaking audiences while maintaining English-language excellence, crucial for serving Quebec's bilingual business environment.

Vancouver Design Services

West Coast Innovation and Sustainability Vancouver combines tech innovation with strong environmental and social values. Our Vancouver design team focuses on:

• Cleantech and Sustainability: Green technology, climate solutions, impact platforms
• Film and Media Production: Tools for BC's massive film industry
• Real Estate and PropTech: Property management, real estate platforms
• Outdoor and Recreation: Apps for BC's outdoor lifestyle and tourism

Vancouver businesses appreciate our Pacific Rim perspective, sustainability focus, and designs that reflect West Coast values and aesthetics.

Design Services in Other Canadian Cities

Calgary and Edmonton: Energy sector dashboards, resource management platforms, agricultural technology Ottawa: Government services, public sector platforms, cybersecurity tools, telecommunications Winnipeg: Agribusiness platforms, transportation and logistics, healthcare systems Halifax: Maritime industry tools, defense systems, ocean technology, education platforms Quebec City: Government services, insurance platforms, cultural heritage applications

Our Canadian Design Process

Discovery and Research Phase

Understanding Canadian Market Context Every project begins with deep research into your Canadian target audience. We analyze:

• Regional Differences: How users in different provinces interact with digital products
• Bilingual Requirements: Which audiences require French-language support
• Regulatory Landscape: Accessibility, privacy, and industry-specific compliance needs
• Competitive Analysis: How Canadian and international competitors approach similar challenges

User Research with Canadian Participants We conduct user interviews, surveys, and usability testing with Canadian users representative of your target audience. This includes:

• Geographic Diversity: Users from multiple provinces and regions
• Language Diversity: Both English and French speakers, plus heritage language speakers
• Cultural Diversity: Reflecting Canada's multicultural population
• Ability Diversity: Including users with disabilities to ensure accessibility

Design and Prototyping Phase

Bilingual Design Systems We create design systems that work seamlessly in both English and French:

• Flexible Layouts: Designs that accommodate text expansion (French is typically 20-30% longer)
• Bilingual Typography: Font selections that support French accents and special characters
• Cultural Appropriateness: Imagery and iconography that resonates with both cultures
• Component Libraries: Reusable components with built-in bilingual support

Accessibility-First Design Accessibility isn't an afterthought—it's built into our design process from the start:

• Color Contrast: WCAG AA compliance (minimum 4.5:1 for normal text)
• Keyboard Navigation: Full functionality without mouse interaction
• Screen Reader Optimization: Proper heading hierarchy, ARIA labels, semantic HTML
• Touch Target Sizes: Minimum 44x44 pixel targets for mobile interfaces

Iterative Prototyping We create interactive prototypes that stakeholders and users can test:

• Low-Fidelity Wireframes: Early validation of structure and flow
• High-Fidelity Prototypes: Pixel-perfect designs with interactions
• Bilingual Testing: Prototypes in both English and French for complete validation
• Accessibility Testing: Screen reader testing, keyboard navigation, color contrast verification

Development Handoff and Support

Design-to-Development Documentation We provide comprehensive documentation for development teams:

• Design Specifications: Exact measurements, spacing, typography, colors
• Component Documentation: Reusable components with usage guidelines
• Responsive Breakpoints: Mobile, tablet, and desktop specifications
• Accessibility Requirements: ARIA labels, keyboard interactions, focus management

Bilingual Asset Preparation All design assets are prepared for both English and French implementations:

• Image Assets: Separate assets for English and French text-containing images
• Icon Sets: Culturally appropriate icons for both language contexts
• Illustration Libraries: Graphics that work across both language versions

Quality Assurance Support We support your development team through implementation:

• Design Reviews: Verification that implementation matches design specifications
• Accessibility Audits: Testing against WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards
• Cross-Browser Testing: Chrome, Safari, Firefox, Edge on Windows and Mac
• Device Testing: iOS and Android, various screen sizes and resolutions

Design Technologies and Tools

Design and Prototyping Tools

Industry-Standard Design Platforms - Figma: Our primary design tool for collaborative, cloud-based design - Adobe Creative Suite: Photoshop, Illustrator for advanced graphics - Sketch: For macOS-focused design workflows - InVision: Interactive prototyping and stakeholder presentations

Accessibility Testing Tools - WAVE: Web accessibility evaluation - axe DevTools: Automated accessibility testing - Colour Contrast Analyser: WCAG contrast compliance verification - Screen Readers: NVDA, JAWS, VoiceOver for real-world testing

Design System and Component Libraries

Modern Frontend Frameworks We design for implementation in:

• React: Component-based design systems with Storybook
• Vue.js: Progressive framework design patterns
• Angular: Enterprise application design systems
• Web Components: Framework-agnostic component libraries

Government Design Systems For public sector clients:

• GC Design System: Canada.ca design standards and components
• WET-BOEW: Web Experience Toolkit implementation
• Provincial Systems: Ontario, Quebec, BC government design standards

Canadian Regulatory Compliance

Accessibility Compliance (AODA and Provincial)

WCAG 2.0 Level AA Compliance All our designs meet or exceed WCAG 2.0 Level AA standards:

• Perceivable: Text alternatives, captions, adaptable content, distinguishable colors
• Operable: Keyboard accessible, sufficient time, seizure prevention, navigable
• Understandable: Readable, predictable, input assistance
• Robust: Compatible with assistive technologies

AODA Compliance for Ontario Businesses Ontario organizations must comply with AODA by 2025. We ensure:

• Public Websites: WCAG 2.0 Level AA by January 1, 2021
• Intranet/Extranet: Full compliance roadmap
• Mobile Apps: Accessibility from initial design
• Documentation: Accessibility statements and policies

Privacy and Data Protection (PIPEDA)

Privacy by Design We incorporate privacy principles into design:

• Minimal Data Collection: Design interfaces that request only necessary information
• Transparent Consent: Clear, understandable privacy notices and consent mechanisms
• User Control: Easy access to personal data, deletion requests, privacy preferences
• Secure Design Patterns: Visual indicators for secure transactions, privacy indicators

Bilingual Privacy Communications Privacy policies, consent forms, and data handling notices must be clear in both languages. We design interfaces that make privacy information accessible and understandable to all Canadian users.

Success Stories: Canadian Design Projects

Major Canadian Bank Mobile Banking Redesign

Challenge: One of Canada's Big Five banks needed to redesign their mobile banking app to serve 5 million customers across Canada, supporting both English and French with full accessibility compliance.

Solution: We conducted user research with 200+ Canadian banking customers across all provinces, identified pain points in the existing app, and designed a completely new experience with:

• Seamless bilingual experience with zero translation delay
• WCAG 2.0 Level AA accessibility throughout
• Biometric authentication (Face ID, Touch ID, fingerprint)
• Interac e-Transfer integration with improved security
• Investment management tools for TFSA, RRSP, RESP accounts

Results: - 47% increase in mobile app engagement - 4.8-star rating (up from 3.2) in App Store - 89% reduction in accessibility-related complaints - Successful OSFI regulatory approval - 31% reduction in customer service calls

Government of Canada Bilingual Service Portal

Challenge: Federal department needed a citizen-facing portal for accessing government services, requiring full GC Design System compliance and equal experience in both official languages.

Solution: Complete UX redesign following Canada.ca standards:

• Implementation of GC Design System components
• WET-BOEW integration for accessibility and bilingual support
• User research with 500+ Canadian citizens across all provinces
• Plain language content design in both English and French
• Mobile-first responsive design for diverse device usage

Results: - 93% task completion rate (vs. 67% in old system) - WCAG 2.0 Level AAA accessibility achieved (exceeding requirements) - Equal satisfaction scores for English and French versions - Treasury Board approval without revisions - 56% reduction in call center volume

National Retail Chain E-commerce Redesign

Challenge: Major Canadian retailer needed to redesign their e-commerce platform to compete with Amazon while serving bilingual customers and regional shipping complexities.

Solution: Comprehensive e-commerce UX redesign:

• Bilingual product catalog with French-Canadian localization
• Shipping cost transparency for remote regions
• Store pickup integration for 500+ locations
• Canadian payment method optimization (cards, Interac, digital wallets)
• Seasonal merchandising for Canadian climate

Results: - 68% increase in online conversion rate - 89% increase in Quebec online sales (French experience improvement) - 41% increase in average order value - 4.6-star customer satisfaction rating - 23% reduction in cart abandonment