Redefine Georgia Gateway Portal

Users from diverse backgrounds struggle to navigate the Georgia Gateway Portal due to its complex interface, leading to confusion, delays, and incomplete applications.
Our 10-member design team includes a UX researcher, a UX designer, and a UI designer. I work closely with my mentor, who is the project manager. Our challenge was to simplify the experience, improve clarity, and ensure the platform meets the needs of users with limited digital literacy or English proficiency.

[Project Overview]

The Georgia Gateway Portal is a crucial access point for individuals applying for public assistance programs like SNAP, Medicaid, and TANF.

Industry

Government Portal

My Role

UXUI Designer

Tools

Figma Photoshop Illustrator

Timeline

Jan 2022 - April 2022

x3

Application time reduced 3 times than before

x1

The successful submission rate for first-time users

+40%

User satisfaction based on post-test surveys.

Select this text to see the highlight effect
Our Timeline
We held five major meetings with senior executives during the project, including the Kick-off, Checkpoints 1, 2, and 3, and the Final presentation. I was responsible for the midpoint presentation.

Research

Comprehensive survey distributed to Georgia residents

During our research, we conducted a survey using an online survey service called Pollfish. We received 100 completed surveys, and 72 of those responses were from people who have applied for benefits in the state of Georgia.

Original Website Flow Test

Our team follows a structured approach by breaking down each task into detailed steps and assigning an estimated average time for completion. Throughout the process, we carefully observe user interactions, gather insights, and document any challenges or issues encountered. This method allows us to track user experiences in detail and adjust based on real-time observations.


Task 1: Create an account — Task 2: Apply for a benefit — Task 3: Review the existing application — Task 4: Upload documents for the existing application — Task 5: Report a change to the existing application

Our team follows a structured approach by breaking down each task into detailed steps and assigning an estimated average time for completion. Throughout the process, we carefully observe user interactions, gather insights, and document any challenges or issues encountered. This method allows us to track user experiences in detail and adjust based on real-time observations.


Task 1: Create an account — Task 2: Apply for a benefit — Task 3: Review the existing application — Task 4: Upload documents for the existing application — Task 5: Report a change to the existing application

Our team follows a structured approach by breaking down each task into detailed steps and assigning an estimated average time for completion. Throughout the process, we carefully observe user interactions, gather insights, and document any challenges or issues encountered. This method allows us to track user experiences in detail and adjust based on real-time observations.


Task 1: Create an account — Task 2: Apply for a benefit — Task 3: Review the existing application — Task 4: Upload documents for the existing application — Task 5: Report a change to the existing application

Real User Interview

Our team went out into the city of Savannah and interviewed people in the interest of learning more about the user’s behavior to improve the overall user experience of applying for benefits using the Georgia Gateway Portal.

Our team went out into the city of Savannah and interviewed people in the interest of learning more about the user’s behavior to improve the overall user experience of applying for benefits using the Georgia Gateway Portal.

Our team went out into the city of Savannah and interviewed people in the interest of learning more about the user’s behavior to improve the overall user experience of applying for benefits using the Georgia Gateway Portal.

Archetype

Our team went out into the city of Savannah and interviewed people in the interest of learning more about the user’s behavior to improve the overall user experience of applying for benefits using the Georgia Gateway Portal.

Our team went out into the city of Savannah and interviewed people in the interest of learning more about the user’s behavior to improve the overall user experience of applying for benefits using the Georgia Gateway Portal.

Our team went out into the city of Savannah and interviewed people in the interest of learning more about the user’s behavior to improve the overall user experience of applying for benefits using the Georgia Gateway Portal.

Instead of building detailed personas, we used archetypes to focus on behavioral patterns and goals shared across diverse visitor groups, avoiding assumptions tied to age, background, or appearance.These four characters, diverse in background and needs, took on the challenge of applying for benefits, allowing us to explore how different users interact with the portal.

Key User Insights

Simplified application process

Users need a faster, more intuitive way to complete their applications, with fewer steps and less complexity

Clearer step-by-step guidance

Users require clear instructions at every stage of the application, ensuring they understand policy.

Transparency benefit eligibility

Users want real-time updates and visibility into their eligibility and application status.

Ideation

Brainstorming

We start by writing down data in the form of “I“ statements in yellow stickies. These points are then grouped by similarity to form the orange ones. These insights are further combined to form the ideas in blue stickies. These blue stickies are further consolidated into green stickies as How Might We statements.

Affinitization

We voted for the design goals.

Design Goals

Reduce

Overload

Reduce info Overload

Ease Application

Process

Ease Design Process

Improve

Accessibility

Improve Accessibility

Encourage Digital Adoption

Encourage Digital Adoption

Reduce Overload

User Flow Redefine

We have made significant renovations to the newly developed user flow sections. We have reduced the number of steps and simplified the process for creating an account and password retrieval systems.

Before

After

Ease Application Process

Low-fi Flow For Internal Testing

To kick off our project, we developed a low-fidelity prototype for internal testing, gathered feedback from all team members and stakeholders, and then made two iterations of the low-fidelity diagram.

Mid-fi Flow for Real User Testing

We sent the mid-fi prototype to several interviewers for comprehensive testing and also conducted internal team testing to gather feedback. During this process, we meticulously calculated the time taken for each step of the application. As a result of our efforts, we were pleased to discover that our new process saved about 15 minutes compared to the old process.

Test 1

Tesk 1: log in for 50s

Improve Overall Accessibility

Comply with Federal Government Section 508 Design Guidelines

Before high-fidelity delivery, our team firmly believed that the new portal should be accessible to everyone. While complying with Section 508 guidelines is federally required, we recommend that the final design focus more on assisting users instead of just meeting standards.

The minimum Contrast Ratio of a button needs to be at least 3:1. The previous orange only has a 1.88:1 against white, which doesn’t meet the minimum requirement.

Design Iteration Based on New UI Kit

“良好的无障碍环境是关于合规,而伟大的无障碍环境是关于同理心。”
Sheri Byrne-Haber(对无障碍环境的关注)

Card Design Guideline

The minimum Contrast Ratio of a button needs to be at least 3:1. The previous orange only has a 1.88:1 against white, which doesn’t meet the minimum requirement.

Card Design Guideline

This orange meets the standards for WCAG Level AA Large Text if the button text is at least 14px and bold.



This orange meets the standards for WCAG Level AA Large Text if the button text is at least 14px and bold.



Encourage Digital Adoption

Comprehensive replacement of paper applications
Our goal is for the website to serve as a comprehensive alternative to the paper application, providing a more efficient and environmentally friendly process. To achieve this, we ensure that Deloitte has a robust cloud-based system to securely store user information.
User Guideline and Instructions
Our goal is for the website to serve as a comprehensive alternative to the paper application, providing a more efficient and environmentally friendly process. To achieve this, we ensure that Deloitte has a robust cloud-based system to securely store user information.

Final Overlook

Back to Home

Next Project

想和我一起工作吗?