Accessibility (WCAG 2.0)
We have implemented modern web accessibility standards to make memory accessible to everyone.
The site supports:
- contrast changes;
- text scaling;
- keyboard navigation;
- inclusive UX solutions for different categories of users.
Place of Resistance: A Digital Memory Space Created for the State Archival Service of Ukraine
Place of resistance — Azovstal
UXUIWebDesignWordPressDigitalMemory
About the initiative
“Place of Resistance — Azovstal” is an online platform dedicated to the heroism of the defenders of Mariupol and the defense of Azovstal.
The project was created by the State Archives Service of Ukraine to preserve testimonies: photos, documents, stories and facts that have become symbols of invincibility. This is not just a website — it is a digital monument, where each section speaks the language of memory, and the content preserves the truth about the events that forever changed Ukrainian history.
Site purpose
The siteGist team had to create a platform “from scratch” that:
- presents archival materials in a structured way;
- allows users to pause and thoughtfully review content;
- conveys emotion without unnecessary effects;
- respectfully works with the theme and visual language of memory;
- remains accessible to everyone — both technically and emotionally.
A design that speaks the language of restraint
In the project, we were looking for a visual language that combines empathy, conciseness and depth.
Therefore, the design is based on:
- minimalism and a dark background that create an atmosphere of silence and respect;
- contrasting accents that emphasize key meanings;
- content as the center of the composition — photos, documents, stories are not “overlapping” with anything;
- space that allows you to stop and look at the materials carefully and consciously.
Architecture and UX solutions
We have created a logical structure that guides the user through factual materials, historical narrative and testimonies.
Key UX solutions include:
- a convenient categorization system for different types of archives;
- adaptive viewing of documents, photos and videos;
- an interface in which there is nothing superfluous – only information and meanings;
- quick navigation for deep materials;
- accessibility (WCAG 2.0).
Project in detail – site structure
About the project
The section introduces the history of the platform’s creation, its mission and goal — to preserve the truth about the defense of Azovstal and those who became symbols of resistance. Key context and explanations, without which it is impossible to understand the scale of the event.
Project materials
Documents, photos, and videos open in a convenient view, maintaining a restrained presentation. The archive is designed so that the user can read, view, and browse materials without losing respect for the topic.
Infrastructure facilities
The section introduces the territory of Azovstal: strategic zones, buildings, engineering nodes where the defense took place. This is an important part of the context, helping to understand the complexity and scale of the events.
Biography of Azovstal
A historical narrative unit that covers the journey of the enterprise from the 1930s to the events of full-scale war. Each page is a fragment of a larger story that forms a deeper understanding of the place.
News
Updates, events, presentations, releases. The section keeps the site “alive” — showing how the topic of memory continues to develop and remain relevant.
The website “Place of Resistance — Azovstal” has become a modern form of preserving history — a space in which archives become close and understandable. It is not just a resource, but a digital monument that speaks the language of respect and memory, allowing us to comprehend the events of the past and influence the perception of the present. Here, history is not only transmitted, but also preserved for those who will come after us.
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