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Design Principles

🇪🇹 Ethiopian Identity

Create digital experiences that reflect Ethiopian culture, values, and visual identity while maintaining global standards.

  • Use Ethiopian color palette and symbols appropriately
  • Support Amharic and other Ethiopian languages
  • Respect cultural context and local needs

♿ Accessibility First

Ensure digital services are usable by everyone, including people with disabilities.

  • Follow WCAG 2.1 AA standards
  • Provide keyboard navigation
  • Ensure sufficient color contrast
  • Support screen readers

📱 Mobile First

Design for mobile devices first, then enhance for larger screens.

  • Consider limited bandwidth and data usage
  • Optimize for touch interactions
  • Ensure readability on small screens
  • Test on actual mobile devices

🎯 Consistency

Maintain visual and functional consistency across all government digital services.

  • Use standardized components and patterns
  • Follow established design tokens
  • Maintain consistent interaction patterns
  • Use common navigation structures

Content Guidelines

Writing for Ethiopian Audiences

Clear Communication

Use simple, direct language. Avoid bureaucratic jargon. Write in active voice and keep sentences short and clear.

Accessibility in Content

Link Text

Use descriptive link text that makes sense out of context. Avoid "click here" or "read more".

Implementation Best Practices

Performance

  • Optimize images and assets for faster loading
  • Minimize JavaScript bundle size
  • Use lazy loading for below-the-fold content
  • Implement proper caching strategies

Browser Support

  • Ensure compatibility with commonly used browsers in Ethiopia
  • Test on both desktop and mobile devices
  • Provide fallbacks for older browsers
  • Consider low-bandwidth scenarios

Progressive Enhancement

  • Build core functionality that works without JavaScript
  • Enhance experience with JavaScript where available
  • Provide accessible fallbacks for advanced features
  • Test with different technology constraints

Ethiopian Digital Standards

EthioWDS aligns with emerging Ethiopian digital government standards and international best practices.

Color Usage

Follow established color meanings in Ethiopian context while ensuring accessibility compliance.

Typography

Use Noto Sans Ethiopic for Amharic text with appropriate fallbacks for optimal readability.

Data Formats

Use Ethiopian calendar and local date formats where appropriate in forms and displays.