User Research
Visual Design
Interaction Design
NOAA · drought.gov
Making Drought Intelligence Actionable for Communities and Decision-Makers
Making Drought Intelligence Actionable for Communities and Decision-Makers
Making Drought Intelligence Actionable for Communities and Decision-Makers
Product Outcome
Transformed Drought.gov from a data repository into a decision-support platform where communities can understand drought conditions and take informed action.
Timeline
2017 – 2020
2017 – 2020
2017 – 2020
Role
Web Content Manger and UX Lead
Research
Interaction Design
Information Architecture
Design Systems
Web Content Manger and UX Lead
Research
Interaction Design
Information Architecture
Design Systems
Web Content Manger and UX Lead
Research
Interaction Design
Information Architecture
Design Systems
Reusable Template Slot
Swap this column for team, scope, tools, constraints, or platform context in future case studies.
Swap this column for team, scope, tools, constraints, or platform context in future case studies.
Swap this column for team, scope, tools, constraints, or platform context in future case studies.
The Problem
Complex drought monitoring data locked in scientific formats that communities and policymakers couldn't act on.
Complex drought monitoring data locked in scientific formats that communities and policymakers couldn't act on.
Complex drought monitoring data locked in scientific formats that communities and policymakers couldn't act on.
NOAA's Drought.gov served as the nation's portal for drought information, but the experience was built around scientific data structures rather than user needs. Communities facing drought couldn't quickly understand their risk, and policymakers struggled to translate monitoring data into action.
NOAA's Drought.gov served as the nation's portal for drought information, but the experience was built around scientific data structures rather than user needs. Communities facing drought couldn't quickly understand their risk, and policymakers struggled to translate monitoring data into action.
NOAA's Drought.gov served as the nation's portal for drought information, but the experience was built around scientific data structures rather than user needs. Communities facing drought couldn't quickly understand their risk, and policymakers struggled to translate monitoring data into action.
The platform had evolved organically over years, with content, data visualizations, and tools added without a cohesive information architecture or user-centered design strategy.
The platform had evolved organically over years, with content, data visualizations, and tools added without a cohesive information architecture or user-centered design strategy.
The platform had evolved organically over years, with content, data visualizations, and tools added without a cohesive information architecture or user-centered design strategy.
Product Strategy
Shifting from data publishing to decision support
I redesigned the platform's UX and content strategy around a core question: What does someone need to know and do when drought affects their community? This reframed Drought.gov from a scientific data portal to a decision-support tool.
User flow mapping across multiple Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) revealed that discovery wasn’t a linear process; it was a network of interconnected journeys that the product needed to support.
User flow mapping across multiple Distributed Active Archive Centers (DAACs) revealed that discovery wasn’t a linear process; it was a network of interconnected journeys that the product needed to support.
Working closely with climate scientists and developers, I established a design and content process informed by analytics, usability testing, and direct collaboration. The strategy balanced scientific accuracy with plain-language accessibility, ensuring experts could still access the depth they needed.
Working closely with climate scientists and developers, I established a design and content process informed by analytics, usability testing, and direct collaboration. The strategy balanced scientific accuracy with plain-language accessibility, ensuring experts could still access the depth they needed.
Cross-functional Decisions
Bridging scientists and communities
Established a workflow between climate scientists and content/design to translate complex drought monitoring data into formats communities could understand and act on without losing scientific rigor.
Analytics and user informed iteration
Used Google Analytics and usability testing as continuous input into design decisions, creating a data-driven design process that demonstrated impact to stakeholders and kept the team focused on real user behavior.
Content strategy as product strategy
Recognized that on a data-rich platform like Drought.gov, content architecture was the product. Redesigned the information hierarchy around user tasks rather than organizational structure.
research and discovery
Understanding the Ecosystem
Understanding the Ecosystem
Understanding the Ecosystem
Before defining the solution, I needed to understand how researchers, water managers, educators, and the public found, interpreted, and acted on drought information. Combining research, analytics, and stakeholder insights revealed the opportunities that shaped the platform strategy.
Before defining the solution, I needed to understand how researchers, water managers, educators, and the public found, interpreted, and acted on drought information. Combining research, analytics, and stakeholder insights revealed the opportunities that shaped the platform strategy.
Before defining the solution, I needed to understand how researchers, water managers, educators, and the public found, interpreted, and acted on drought information. Combining research, analytics, and stakeholder insights revealed the opportunities that shaped the platform strategy.
User Research
User Research
User Research
Interviewed researchers, educators, water managers, and members of the public to understand how different audiences searched for information, made decisions, and navigated drought-related workflows.
Interviewed researchers, educators, water managers, and members of the public to understand how different audiences searched for information, made decisions, and navigated drought-related workflows.
Interviewed researchers, educators, water managers, and members of the public to understand how different audiences searched for information, made decisions, and navigated drought-related workflows.
Analytics & Content Insights
Analytics & Content Insights
Analytics & Content Insights
Analyzed site analytics and existing content to identify high-value resources, common navigation patterns, and areas where users struggled to find information.
Analyzed site analytics and existing content to identify high-value resources, common navigation patterns, and areas where users struggled to find information.
Analyzed site analytics and existing content to identify high-value resources, common navigation patterns, and areas where users struggled to find information.
Stakeholder Alignment
Stakeholder Alignment
Stakeholder Alignment
Partnered with internal experts and partner organizations to align business goals, content priorities, and user needs around a shared product vision.
Partnered with internal experts and partner organizations to align business goals, content priorities, and user needs around a shared product vision.
Partnered with internal experts and partner organizations to align business goals, content priorities, and user needs around a shared product vision.
Information architecture
Aligning Information with Decision-Making
Aligning Information with Decision-Making
Aligning Information with Decision-Making
To align these findings and create a shared vision for the redesign, I facilitated a Value Proposition exercise with stakeholders. This workshop helped us identify the platform's core value, prioritize user needs, and uncover opportunities to better connect people with the information and resources most relevant to them.
To align these findings and create a shared vision for the redesign, I facilitated a Value Proposition exercise with stakeholders. This workshop helped us identify the platform's core value, prioritize user needs, and uncover opportunities to better connect people with the information and resources most relevant to them.
To align these findings and create a shared vision for the redesign, I facilitated a Value Proposition exercise with stakeholders. This workshop helped us identify the platform's core value, prioritize user needs, and uncover opportunities to better connect people with the information and resources most relevant to them.
Research revealed that users approached Drought.gov with different levels of expertise but shared a common need: quickly understanding drought conditions and identifying relevant information for their region and situation.
Instead of organizing navigation around NASA’s internal structure, I organized it around user goals and the relationships between products. The resulting information architecture reduced cognitive load for new users while preserving efficient pathways for experienced researchers.
Instead of organizing navigation around NASA’s internal structure, I organized it around user goals and the relationships between products. The resulting information architecture reduced cognitive load for new users while preserving efficient pathways for experienced researchers.
Mapped user goals, pain points, and business priorities across key audiences to identify shared opportunities and establish a product strategy grounded in user value.
Mapping cross-DAAC discovery workflows uncovered disconnected user journeys that informed the platform’s new information architecture.
Mapping cross-DAAC discovery workflows uncovered disconnected user journeys that informed the platform’s new information architecture.
SCALABLE DESIGN
Building a foundation for growth
Building a foundation for growth
Building a foundation for growth
A successful redesign required more than new screens. I established a cohesive visual language, reusable component library, and implementation standards that enabled the platform to grow while maintaining consistency across content, tools, and partner contributions.
A successful redesign required more than new screens. I established a cohesive visual language, reusable component library, and implementation standards that enabled the platform to grow while maintaining consistency across content, tools, and partner contributions.
A successful redesign required more than new screens. I established a cohesive visual language, reusable component library, and implementation standards that enabled the platform to grow while maintaining consistency across content, tools, and partner contributions.
Visual Langauge
Visual Langauge
Developed a refreshed visual identity rooted in the U.S. Web Design System, balancing accessibility, clarity, and the NIDIS brand. The resulting design language established a recognizable, scalable foundation for the platform.
Each DAAC manages different scientific data, making a one-size-fits-all template impractical.
Design Decision
Based on the cross-DAAC content inventory to identify shared user needs, I created a modular interaction framework that maintained consistent structure while adapting to each dataset’s unique content.
Each DAAC manages different scientific data, making a one-size-fits-all template impractical.
Design Decision
Based on the cross-DAAC content inventory to identify shared user needs, I created a modular interaction framework that maintained consistent structure while adapting to each dataset’s unique content.
Established a cohesive visual language, refreshed brand identity, and accessibility-first design standards that created a recognizable foundation for the platform.
Established a cohesive visual language, refreshed brand identity, and accessibility-first design standards that created a recognizable foundation for the platform.
Established a cohesive visual language, refreshed brand identity, and accessibility-first design standards that created a recognizable foundation for the platform.
Scalable Design System
Scalable Design System
Partnered with developers to create reusable components, responsive patterns, and implementation standards that improved consistency, streamlined collaboration, and accelerated future development.
Each DAAC manages different scientific data, making a one-size-fits-all template impractical.
Design Decision
Based on the cross-DAAC content inventory to identify shared user needs, I created a modular interaction framework that maintained consistent structure while adapting to each dataset’s unique content.
Each DAAC manages different scientific data, making a one-size-fits-all template impractical.
Design Decision
Based on the cross-DAAC content inventory to identify shared user needs, I created a modular interaction framework that maintained consistent structure while adapting to each dataset’s unique content.
Built a library of reusable UI components and page templates that enabled teams to create new content quickly while maintaining consistency.
Built a library of reusable UI components and page templates that enabled teams to create new content quickly while maintaining consistency.
Built a library of reusable UI components and page templates that enabled teams to create new content quickly while maintaining consistency.
interaction design
Designing for Confident Decision-Making
Designing for Confident Decision-Making
Designing for Confident Decision-Making
Research revealed that users approached Drought.gov with different levels of expertise but shared a common need: quickly understanding drought conditions and finding information relevant to their region and situation. These insights guided the redesign by improving discoverability, creating clear pathways to action, and building a scalable foundation that could evolve alongside the platform.
Research revealed that users approached Drought.gov with different levels of expertise but shared a common need: quickly understanding drought conditions and finding information relevant to their region and situation. These insights guided the redesign by improving discoverability, creating clear pathways to action, and building a scalable foundation that could evolve alongside the platform.
Research revealed that users approached Drought.gov with different levels of expertise but shared a common need: quickly understanding drought conditions and finding information relevant to their region and situation. These insights guided the redesign by improving discoverability, creating clear pathways to action, and building a scalable foundation that could evolve alongside the platform.
Helping Users Find What Matters
Usability testing revealed that users weren't overwhelmed by the amount of information. They struggled to connect it.
The redesign reduced cognitive load through three interaction principles:
Navigate with confidence
On This Page navigation
Stronger section hierarchy
Consistent card layouts
Understand the data
Improved legends
Plain-language explanations
Context around visualizations
Take action
More prominent resources
Alerts
Local information
Each DAAC manages different scientific data, making a one-size-fits-all template impractical.
Design Decision
Based on the cross-DAAC content inventory to identify shared user needs, I created a modular interaction framework that maintained consistent structure while adapting to each dataset’s unique content.
Each DAAC manages different scientific data, making a one-size-fits-all template impractical.
Design Decision
Based on the cross-DAAC content inventory to identify shared user needs, I created a modular interaction framework that maintained consistent structure while adapting to each dataset’s unique content.
IMPACT
Making Climate Information Actionable
Making Climate Information Actionable
Making Climate Information Actionable
By reimagining Drought.gov around user needs, the redesign made complex climate information easier to discover, understand, and act on.
By reimagining Drought.gov around user needs, the redesign made complex climate information easier to discover, understand, and act on.
By reimagining Drought.gov around user needs, the redesign made complex climate information easier to discover, understand, and act on.
Product Strategy
Unified drought information around user goals instead of organizational structures.
Unified drought information around user goals instead of organizational structures.
Unified drought information around user goals instead of organizational structures.
Information Architecture
Reduced navigation complexity through task-based organization and consistent content models.
Reduced navigation complexity through task-based organization and consistent content models.
INTERACTION DESIGN
Created predictable interaction patterns that made complex climate data easier to interpret.
Created predictable interaction patterns that made complex climate data easier to interpret.
Created predictable interaction patterns that made complex climate data easier to interpret.
Design System
Established reusable components and standards that enabled the platform to scale.
Established reusable components and standards that enabled the platform to scale.
Established reusable components and standards that enabled the platform to scale.
✨Principles I Still Design By
This project reinforced a lesson I still apply today: people don't need less information - they need clearer pathways to understand it, trust it, and act on it.
That's a wrap
Final Experience
Final Experience
Final Experience
A platform designed to help people discover, understand, and act on drought information with confidence.
A platform designed to help people discover, understand, and act on drought information with confidence.
