Revolutionizing Search.gov: Modernizing the Federal Government’s Search Engine
As a Product and UX Lead for Search.gov, I led a strategic redesign to enhance functionality, improve efficiency, and drive significant cost savings. Beyond UX, I developed the risk management plan, facilitated agile processes, and worked across teams to ensure a scalable, user-focused solution—ultimately saving $600K annually.​
The Problem
Search.gov, a vital tool for government agencies, faced significant limitations in both functionality and cost-efficiency, which hindered its effectiveness in providing search services across federal websites. The platform was burdened with outdated features, many of which were underutilized or redundant, and a lack of scalability as the government’s digital infrastructure evolved. Additionally, the product’s administrative console was inefficient, complicating the workflow for agency partners. These challenges not only impacted the user experience but also represented a costly overhead for the government, threatening the platform’s long-term sustainability.
My Role
As the UX Designer for the Search.gov products, I am playing a central role in transforming the Search product and site into a dynamic product with significantly increased functionality.​
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Through interviews with agency partners recommended how to make Search.gov more efficient by examining the use of the administrative console via quantitative and qualitative methods to determine sunsetting of features for cost savings for the search product.
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Designed and co-documented the product pivot process for product migration, creating workflows and system transitions that positioned the product to move to Cloud.gov while enhancing efficiency. This redesign is projected to save apprx $600k annually.
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Spearheaded the development of the product vision, goals, and strategic roadmap to align with organizational priorities and user needs, outlining budget considerations, team structure, resource allocation, and functional requirements.
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Led the creation of a comprehensive communications plan to engage stakeholders and ensure successful implementation of the revamped product strategy.
Research Behind The Program
We conducted discovery research through generative discussions with agency partners, using the admin console as a backdrop to explore how federal agencies interact with the Search.gov platform’s back end. By focusing on real-world use cases, we identified which features were valuable, which were underutilized, and which could be sunsetted for cost savings. This research provided a clear understanding of user needs, allowing us to prioritize functionality and streamline the product for greater efficiency.
This screenshot shows some of my process, evaluating all of the possible actions in the admin console, as well as asking some product questions.
Defining Research Questions and Recruitment Strategies
At this stage of the project, I began formulating key research questions to guide the study. The objective was to ensure the research would generate meaningful insights, uncover usability challenges, and validate design assumptions. The questions were structured to prompt in-depth responses and provide a clear understanding of user needs across different agency types. Alongside question development, I identified recruitment categories to ensure a diverse and representative participant pool. The study focused on three key groups: High Impact Service Providers (HISPs), small agencies, and large agencies. To effectively reach participants within these categories, I explored multiple recruitment methods, including Slack communities, email outreach, and agency newsletters.
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The screenshot captures this early planning phase, illustrating the structured approach taken to refine research focus and optimize recruitment strategies.
We Continue to Iterate
We’ve successfully completed the discovery research phase, including a card sorting exercise to better understand how users interact with content and categorize information. This research has provided valuable insights that will directly inform our design decisions moving forward.
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I am currently working on detailed product documentation to ensure consistency and clarity as we move into the next stages of development. Additionally, I’ve started developing search behavior stories to guide the creation of user-centered features that align with agency needs and improve the overall user experience.
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The next steps involve synthesizing these findings into actionable design solutions and collaborating with cross-functional teams to refine the product’s functionality and user interface.