As lead web user experience designer at USGS for more ten years, I analyze analytics results, collect user feedback, conducted an intense information architecture study with stakeholders and webmasters from across the country, and develop new approaches to design and functionality in order to increase satisfaction of users and effectiveness of the USGS web presence. In addition to designing and architecting the enterprise USGS web, which was a consolidation of more than 3.2 million publicly facing webpages (409 websites) into one Drupal website with a consistent user experience, I was responsible for the communicating internally and externally and training hundreds of content managers in the Drupal 7-10 systems to abide by the IT Transformation, White House Digital Strategy, U.S. Web Design Standards.
During the USGS web reengineering phases and after, I have been responsible creating mockups and prototypes for every aspect of the public facing and back-end content management experience, web style guides, and collaborating with other Digital Services Team members to create requests for development proposals, and more. The purpose was to provide a comprehensive document to stakeholders for bureau-wide approval and to Drupal development teams with the user-centric design and content strategy goals, as well as requirements including branding, information architecture, and visual design specifications.
As a Digital Services Product Manager for the Drupal Content Management System (CMS), I use our team's Atlassian Jira Software Projects to accurately manage, track, test, approve using all areas of the Drupal agile development process. My goal is to enhance the capabilities, functionality, and effectiveness of the CMS to ensure that they support federal laws, policies, and USGS web standards and the USGS National Communications Framework. In doing this, I work with stakeholders from across the Bureau to collect bugs, new features, functionality and performance requirements as they pertain to laws and policies using our Digital Services Service Center. I'm responsible for writing use cases, creating wireframes, mockups, test cases, testing steps, and provide complete background information for each new feature of user experience and user interface.
Award-winning USGS.gov
In 2023, the Volcano Hazards Web Team at OCAP Digital Services was honored with a W³ Award Silver Winner for excellence in web design and user experience. As the Lead UX Designer for the Volcano Hazards Program website, I played a key role in crafting a user-centered digital experience that effectively communicates critical scientific information to the public, emergency managers, and researchers.
Our team also received individual recognition in the following categories:
• Website Features - Best User Experience
• General Websites - Government - Federal
• Website Features - Best Use of Data Integration
• General Websites - Science
• Website Feature - Best Home Page
• Website Features - Best Visual Appeal - Utility
• General Websites - Web Applications and Services
Science Products Mappers
Internally, I received a "Group Star Award" given in recognition of the group’s excellent work in planning, designing, and executing a Hawai’i-Pacific Islands Science and Products Mapper and contributing and leading the design and implementation of the portal user interface, portal functionality, and helped build-out of the Mapper’s taxonomy. This made it easy content managers to quickly manage content to display on the mapper and the public to access science with an already existing and continuation of a consistent user experience.
New Drupal Stories
To strengthen internal communications and expand the digital storytelling capabilities of usgs.gov, we introduced Drupal Stories—a flexible, component-based storytelling platform designed for content managers. These new tools enable the delivery of compelling, brand-aligned narratives that engage audiences and reflect the principles of the USGS Unified National External Communications Framework.
Story Components:
• Full-width responsive layouts (new template with drag-and-drop features)
• Re-useable Image and video carousels (full-width)
• Media with scrolling text
• Interactive maps
• Interactive Timelines
• Media grids
Content managers can combine as many components as needed to craft dynamic, custom stories that elevate engagement and reinforce messaging.
Strategic Objectives:
• Provide a compliant alternative to ESRI StoryMaps (Geonarratives)
• Align with federal digital standards:
• 21st Century IDEA Act
• Section 508 accessibility
• Mobile optimization
• Integrate with DAP Google Analytics for performance tracking
• Reflect and support USGS Visual Identity guidelines
• Ensure content is searchable, findable, and reusable (COPE: Create Once, Publish Everywhere)
• Develop standard operating procedures for consistent implementation
• Increase content engagement and usability
• Enhance USGS web presence through narrative storytelling
UX and Information Architecture
The main goal of the USGS web presence is to provide an excellent user experience by making USGS science and data information available, usable, more affordable, and accessible in one robust website. As part of the robust Information Architecture Study we traveled to 7 regions, including 15 states, and 18 cities to meet in-person with center directors, regional representatives, and individual USGS website management and staff to collect requirements and website needs prior to migration into the new USGS Drupal Web Content Management System.
Summit of Kīlauea Volcano, USGS Hawaiian Volcano Observatory (HVO)
Gathering requirements from lead scientist, Jim K, at HVO.
Below represents Featured Story communicating the new USGS Drupal Web Presence following the IA Study, stakeholder approvals, development, extensive user testing, and content manager training.
