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What we are doing design pattern: Canada.ca design

We are decommissioning the what we are doing pattern. We do not recommend adding this pattern to your pages.

What we are doing is a pattern that presents links to content that provides background or explanations of GC activities in support of creating or improving public policy.

When to use this pattern

  • Use this pattern to provide relevant links to content that falls within the program and policy development user-need category
  • Use when the primary purpose of the page is to provide navigation choices

How to use this pattern

Content requirements

  • Label the heading “What we are doing”
  • Organize links by content type; label subheadings only using content type names (see Content types for Canada.ca )
  • Provide links to only the following content types:
    • from the Research, statistics and data category:
      • assessments
      • datasets
      • research
      • statistics
      • surveys
    • from the Consultations and engagement category:
      • consultations
    • from the News, promotions and public awareness category:
      • backgrounders
      • news releases
      • speeches
      • statements
    • from the Corporate information category:
      • program results
    • from the Government-wide reporting category:
      • audits
  • With the permitted types above, only include links to content that provides a view into the work that the government is doing to evaluate, improve or change programs, policies and services; for example, only a news release that announces a new funding program (whereas a news release that announces funding being awarded under and existing program would not be included here)
  • Only include links that are relevant to the page on which this pattern appears
  • Never provide links to content types that fall under the following content type categories:
    • services, like forms or service initiation (instead, place links to this content under services and information or most requested)
    • contact us, such as emergency contact or find an office (instead, place links to this content under the appropriate contact page or pattern, or most requested, if a high-demand task)
    • policy and guidance (instead, place links to this content under services and information, most requested or corporate information)
    • treaties, laws and regulations (instead, place links to this content on the transparency page under corporate information, services and information or most requested, if a high-demand task)
    • navigation and administration like navigation pages, website terms and conditions

Presentation requirements

  • When there are more than 3 subheadings, continue on a second row
  • A minimum of 2 links per subheading is required
  • A maximum of 4 links per subheading is allowed
  • When the number of links exceeds 4, provide a link to “All related [content type name]”

Working example

Example

What we are doing pattern
Screenshot illustrating the what we are doing pattern on Canada.ca. Details on this graphic can be found in the surrounding text.

Page details

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