Efficiently finding information within the U.S. Treasury website is confusing and overwhelming to users.
How might we redesign the page to make the flow more intuitive by organizing the information in an easier-to-use format, making users more successful in finding desired information and less overwhelmed by the information presented?
I was the sole designer on this project. My responsibilities consisted of testing of the live website and prototype of the redesign, card sorting, sitemap redesign, wireframing, prototype creation, style guide creation and application.
I began by creating a proto-persona of John Lake. John wants to use the Treasury website to purchase new coins and add to the collection passed down to him from his grandpa. He wants coins with a story behind them, preferably authenticated and/or with certification.
Utilizing the results of my testing on the live website, I organized the responses into an empathy map, highlighting the lack of general organization and ease of use within the site.
I conducted a detailed analysis of the heuristics pertaining to web pages along the user-selected path. I identified and documented any redundancies, anomalies, or elements that could cause confusion, which would need to be addressed.
By integrating the insights from my heuristic analysis with the results of live website testing, I conducted a sorting exercise to address organizational issues. This was aimed at resolving elements that contribute to user confusion, thereby enhancing the overall user-friendliness of the website. I then converted this into a navigation drop menu.
Employing WCAG standards, I assessed the accessibility of the current live webpage. While most elements met the criteria, I observed an excessive use of various shades of blue. To enhance visual accessibility and aesthetic appeal, I opted to revise the color palette, shifting the focus to greens with a gold accent.
Testing was performed with 7 users who were unfamiliar with the U.S. Department of Treasury website, to gauge how well they could navigate the redesigned website without any preconceived notions.
Starting with a digital wireframe, I incorporated the findings from my sorting exercise to outline the page structure. For the mobile iteration, I initially experimented with a visible base navigation menu but ultimately opted for a classic hamburger menu. This experience underscored the importance of adopting a mobile-first approach in design.
In determining the aesthetic direction for the redesign, I drew inspiration from currency, selecting textures and colors reminiscent of money, particularly focusing on greens with gold accents to evoke a sense of prosperity, wealth, and value.
These were accessibility tested, and each passed for use with either black or white text.
The choice of typography—Literata and Libre Franklin—was initially influenced by their names, which suggested themes of intelligence and a nod to our founding fathers.
The initial phase of user testing on both desktop and mobile platforms highlighted significant navigational challenges within the U.S. Department of Treasury's live website. Many users reported that the top navigation menu was overwhelming and difficult to navigate, impacting their overall user experience.
Despite these challenges, the redesign efforts led to valuable insights into user behavior and preferences, informing a series of iterative modifications. However, due to time constraints, the scope of this project was limited to key areas of the website. Given additional resources, my aim would be to undertake a comprehensive iteration across the entire website, ensuring a cohesive and user-friendly experience throughout all pages.
In future iterations, I aim to enhance visual and functional elements such as carousels on the main page, systematically review and enhance each section of the website, perform additional user testing, and explore the integration of advanced features that cater to a diverse range of users, including those with disabilities.
Explore the transformation of the U.S. Treasury's website through a user-centered design approach, focused on information organization and structure.
This case study dives into the challenges of government website navigation, showcasing the strategies that led to a significant enhancement in user experience and accessibility. Detailed findings, enriched by direct user feedback and prototyping, illustrate the critical role of iterative design in public sector digital services.
