Empowering Citizens to Easily Access Government Representatives and Legislation
FindMyRep
Client: Google UX Design Certificate
Role: UX Designer
Tools: Figma
Year: 2024
FindMyRep is a user-centric app designed to streamline the process of finding detailed information about government representatives by zip code. The project involved comprehensive user research, wireframing, and prototyping to address key pain points, such as difficulty locating contact information and navigating cluttered government websites. The app allows users to search for representatives, view detailed profiles, access relevant legislation, and save their preferred reps for easy future access. Special emphasis was placed on accessibility, simplicity, and intuitive navigation to enhance user engagement and ensure the platform caters to diverse needs.
Problem Statement
Users struggle to easily find and contact their government representatives due to fragmented and outdated data sources, complex navigation on official sites, and inconsistent presentation of information.
Design
Goals
Our goal was to create an intuitive, accessible app that allows users to search for their government representatives by zipcode, view detailed profiles with contact information and social media links, save profiles for easy access, and explore key legislative actions taken by their representatives. The design aimed to balance simplicity with rich, relevant data and make it easy for users to stay informed and engaged with their representatives.
User Research
Research Methodology
started by conducting user surveys and interviews with a diverse group of individuals, including both politically active users and those who are less engaged but still want to be informed. The goal was to understand their pain points when trying to find and connect with their representatives, as well as their expectations for an app like FindMyRep. I also reviewed existing government resource apps to identify common usability issues.
Key Insights
The research revealed that users want to access detailed representative information quickly, but they are often frustrated by cluttered interfaces, broken links, or a lack of summary data on key political actions. There was also a strong demand for an app that was non-partisan and presented information clearly without overwhelming the user.
Personas
Based on the research, I developed four personas, each representing a different user segment: the politically active user, the casual user seeking occasional updates, the accessibility-focused user who requires a highly navigable interface with adjustable settings, and the user who values non-partisan summaries of political actions. Each persona’s pain points and goals shaped the core features of the app.
Personas
Paper Wireframes
I began by sketching paper wireframes for the homepage, search results page, representative details page, legislation search results, saved representatives page, and settings page. These early sketches helped me visualize the layout and structure of the app, ensuring that key actions like searching for representatives and viewing detailed information were accessible and intuitive from the start.
Design Decisions
The decisions behind the design focused on simplicity and clarity. I wanted to ensure that users could easily locate their representatives without unnecessary distractions and find relevant information, such as contact details and voting history, in just a few taps. The use of familiar UI patterns, such as navigational menus and buttons, helped streamline the experience.
Low-Fidelity
Prototype
I built a low-fidelity prototype based on the digital wireframes, allowing users to navigate through key flows, including searching for a representative, viewing their profile, and saving them for future reference.
During the first round of usability testing, participants found the prototype easy to use but suggested adding more representative details and clearer options for accessing voting records and bill sponsorships.
Refining
the Design
Based on user feedback, I made several refinements to the design. I added more detailed representative profiles, including party affiliation, tenure, and summarized voting records. I also introduced notifications and personalization features, allowing users to receive alerts when their saved representatives sponsored new legislation or voted on bills relevant to their interests.
High-Fidelity
Prototype
I developed a high-fidelity prototype that incorporated these new features while maintaining the app’s clean and simple UI.
The final design includes easily accessible pages for representative voting history and sponsored bills, as well as settings for customizing the user experience with options like font size, contrast modes, and theme selection.
Accessibility Features
To make the app more accessible, I implemented adjustable font sizes, high-contrast modes, and clear, navigable layouts. These features ensure that users with visual impairments can comfortably engage with the app’s content, addressing a key accessibility concern highlighted by John Smith's persona.
Final Usability Testing
Testing Method
In the second round of usability testing, I guided participants through the newly refined prototype. They were asked to complete tasks such as searching for a representative by zipcode, reviewing detailed profiles, accessing voting history, and customizing the app’s settings. This test allowed me to gather feedback on the new features and ensure they met user needs.
Findings
Users responded positively to the updated prototype, particularly the expanded profile information and accessibility settings. Participants also appreciated the addition of voting history and sponsored bill summaries, which helped them stay informed without needing to leave the app. There was still some interest in further personalization options, such as filtering notifications by political interests.
Outcomes
The final design of FindMyRep improved users’ ability to find and connect with their government representatives while offering a more personalized, accessible, and non-partisan experience. By integrating key political data with an easy-to-navigate interface, the app empowers users to stay informed and engaged with their representatives in a meaningful way.
Impact
KPIs
To measure the success of the design, I tracked key performance indicators such as task completion rates, time spent in the app, and user satisfaction scores. Usability testing showed that users were able to quickly find their representatives and access detailed information with minimal friction, confirming the effectiveness of the design.
Next Steps
1 / Expand Political Personalization
Next, I'll enhance political personalization options, allowing users to tailor the content they see based on their specific political interests. This will create a more relevant experience and keep users engaged.
2 / Increase Data Integration
I plan to expand data integration to include real-time updates on legislation and voting records. This will allow users to stay up-to-date with their representatives' actions as they happen, making the app more dynamic and valuable.
3 / Conduct Further Accessibility Testing
To ensure the app meets the needs of all users, I will conduct additional accessibility testing with a diverse group of participants. This will help me identify and implement further improvements to the app’s accessibility features, making it usable for everyone.
Mockups
Challenges
& Solutions
One of the biggest challenges was balancing detailed political information with a simple, intuitive user interface. Through multiple rounds of usability testing and iterations, I was able to find a design that offered depth without overwhelming users, making the app both informative and easy to use.