Jacob Alan White
Accessible & Equitable Experiences for the Residents of Illinois
I created the Design Framework used by over 100 state agencies to provide critical government services to the 12.5 million residents of Illinois.
The Framework and Component Library I created allowed content authors to create better, more usable and more accessible websites resulting in a remarkable 63% increase in accessibility, a 62% improvement in content quality, and a 7% increase in UX maturity.
The migration approach and digital transformation process that I defined for this project has become the gold standard for Adobe led digital transformations.
I led the development of wireframes and designed the component library, including defining functional requirements.
Project Details
CHALLENGE
Inconsistent and inaccessible visitor experiences led to a lack of trust among citizens on the official state websites, As a result, the state faced threats of lawsuits and fell behind in complying with federal and state accessibility mandates.
MY ROLE
Grew and led a team of strategists, designers and developers through a complex multi-site migration and modernization.
Provided creative direction for visual design and style system.
Led the development of wireframes and component library, including functional requirements.
Led the development of enablement strategy and communications plan.
Developed personalization strategy.
OUTCOME
Provided a seamless and dynamic platform that makes it easy to create consistent, on-brand, and accessible web experiences for Illinois' 12.5 million residents, resulting in a remarkable 63% increase in accessibility, a 62% improvement in content quality, and a 7% increase in UX maturity.
AWARDS & PRESS
A Citizen First Redesign
Our redesign yielded a tangible and substantial improvement in both the quality and usability of the sites, as evidenced by measurable metrics.
63%↑
Improvements in Accesibility
62%↑
Improvements in Quality Assurance
7%↑
Improvements in UX Maturity
Project Highlights
DEFINING THE VALUE FRAMEWORK
During my nearly two-year engagement with the State of Illinois, I led the transformation of their Web Services organization into a dynamic enterprise content management team. The comprehensive design system, migration process, and enablement strategy developed by my team have evolved into the Adobe Consulting Web Modernization Framework.
Initiating this transformative journey necessitated securing stakeholder commitment and establishing a clear trajectory for success. Identifying key business objectives and establishing measurable impact metrics were pivotal in garnering leadership support for the ambitious undertaking involving over 100 government agencies.
I defined a set of measurable and achievable success factors. These factors served as benchmarks for assessing the legacy experience and validating the effectiveness of our redesign. This strategic approach not only facilitated a seamless transition but also substantiated the impact of our efforts across their diverse government agencies.
Presentation slides that define the business objectives and the value of State migration.
CREATING THE MIGRATION FRAMEWORK
Beyond a mere redesign of Illinois' digital landscape, my team and I embarked on a broader mission, drawing from our extensive experience in executing content migrations within the public sector. Recognizing the need for a scalable and repeatable methodology, I spearheaded the creation of a templatized approach tailored for content migration projects.
The framework we developed for the State's content migration has transcended its initial purpose and is now Adobe's official approach for large-scale content migrations. This transformation underscores not only the adaptability and effectiveness of our solution but also its endorsement by a leading industry player, solidifying its standing as a best practice in the realm of digital transformation and content management.
CREATING THE DESIGN SYSTEM
In tandem with our efforts to elevate the quality and usability of the site, my team and I dedicated ourselves to crafting a citizen-centric design framework. Rooted in a deep understanding of citizen needs, this design framework prioritizes accessibility, ensuring that digital interactions are intuitive and accommodating for all users. By instilling a citizen-centric ethos into our design principles, we not only enhanced the site's overall functionality but also established a scalable model that empowers various agencies and commissions to deliver inclusive, modern experiences to their constituents.
Extensive component and template library
Comprehensive documentation detailing usage and best practices.
EMPOWERING CONTENT CREATORS
The essence of our Web Modernization Framework lies in its profound understanding of the pivotal role content creators play in swiftly delivering pertinent information to citizens. Recognizing the dynamic nature of communication, the framework we created for Illinois strategically incorporates enablement and communication strategies into the modernization process. By prioritizing the empowerment of content authors, we ensure not only the seamless adoption but also the cultivation of a user-centric approach that facilitates the rapid dissemination of relevant information to citizens. This holistic perspective underscored our commitment to not just modernizing web services but also enhancing the overall content delivery experience.
Custom education pages built using the Modernization Framework