Bureau of Industry & Security

Website Design & User Experience
Project Overview
The Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) faced challenges in making complex regulatory information accessible and understandable, impacting trust within the export community. To address this, I collaborated with a content and development team to overhaul BIS’s outdated publishing framework. We developed new content publishing models to streamline content creation, redesigned the website, digitized crucial documents and guides, and introduced custom interactive tools. Our efforts brought BIS into compliance with US Web Design System (USWDS) and 21st Century IDEA standards, ensuring maximum accessibility and mobile-friendliness. This transformation made information more readily available and digestible for stakeholders, significantly improving the user experience.
My Contributions
Wireframing & Prototyping
Information Architecture
Defining User Journeys & Outcomes
UX Research
UX Design
CX Engineer
Accessibility Testing
Product Lead
Project Management
Account Management
Pushing the limits while coloring within the lines.
Website Design & User Experience
2023-2024
A key element of this project's success was delivering an updated look and feel for the BIS website while maintaining a clear hierarchy and information architecture. Accessibility was paramount in the design and structure of each page, template, and component. We utilized the USWDS as a base, leveraging industry-standard components that were already accepted and rigorously tested. In addition to using these components, we aimed to push the boundaries of the BIS brand. We presented modernized options that instilled a sense of trust and authority, complementing the digital updates and new products we introduced on the site.

We also delved into understanding user needs, offering innovative solutions for presenting news and updates. Moving beyond traditional long-form press releases, we introduced cost-effective AI solutions to transform static content into engaging podcasts and video series. This modern approach not only enhances user engagement but also improves compliance with their regulations and updates.
Data-driven decisions made in collaboration with real users.
Website Design & User Experience
2023-2024
To inform the updated information architecture, key outcomes, and user personas, we conducted several interviews and interactive working sessions with real users. Using tools like FigJam, we were able to discover key insights from users about which information was most relevant, and pair that with known traffic data from the site audit. Armed with this information, we were able to dive head-first into reorganizing and structuring the content to ensure the user journeys made the most sense for our audience, and reduced the amount of clicks necessary while also prioritizing features on our timeline.
Innovative products that affected significant change.
Website Design & User Experience
2023-2024
One of the greatest achievements of this project was creating specialized tools and products for the BIS community. Previously, the Export Administration Regulations (EAR) were available only as a static PDF with hundreds of pages, which exporters, enforcers, and lawyers had to refer to daily. Our team developed an API that transformed this information into a dynamic, searchable format, improving accessibility down to each subparagraph. Besides digitizing the EAR, we created several libraries to enhance comprehension, enable dynamic cross-linking to relevant information, and provide actionable next steps for users. The usability of this new product far surpasses its predecessor. Furthermore, we ensured the design was fully responsive and accessible on mobile devices, offering a seamless experience across platforms.

These efforts collectively improved the accessibility and usability of BIS's information, building greater trust within the export community and bringing BIS into compliance with contemporary digital standards.
Empowering teams through self-publishing.
Website Design & User Experience
2023-2024
At the outset of this project, we recognized the critical importance of empowering our team and staff to manage their own content. Through extensive consultations with key stakeholders, we examined their existing processes and streamlined them into an exceptionally efficient and user-friendly self-publishing model. This innovative solution transformed a previously complex, multi-step procedure involving numerous offices into a seamless, single-step process. It also incorporated necessary safeguards, including approval from the Office of Congressional and Public Affairs, ensuring both efficiency and compliance.

Explore other related work

Return home
Chelsea Donegan Creative, LLC
LinkedIn
Return to Top