News and Updates

The four operating levels of 18F projects

At 18F, we partner with government agencies to help them deliver new or modernized digital services and help set them up for success after we conclude the project. To support these outcomes, we set up our work to track on four levels: Project management, Product development, Post-18F sustainability and Learning to the broader government community. — via 18F

FCC requires video conferencing platforms to be accessible and proposes platform integration with sign-language services

The Federal Communications Commission voted to require video conferencing platforms, like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, or Webex, to comply with the accessibility requirements under the Communications Act and agency rules that govern interoperable video conferencing services. — via Federal Communications Commission

Making the big move - Special report: Search in support of federal web modernization

For the past several years Search.gov has reported each year on the top public needs based on the search terms they used.

This special report will take a different approach. It still offers a high level view of the public experience of seeking services and information from the government. But it also tells the story of change, and how these changes affect search and findability.

Planning and implementing a search engine for a redesigned federal government website

In this blog, we walk you through our planning and implementation process for Search.gov. We share lessons learned, as well as resources we found useful. — via Office of Natural Resources Revenue

Why vote.gov supports multiple languages

According to a 2019 U.S. Census Bureau survey, nearly 68 million people in the U.S. speak a language other than English at home. To help make the voting process accessible to everyone who is eligible, vote.gov works with state election offices, federal agencies, and non-partisan organizations to create a national source of accurate voting information and clear registration instructions in multiple languages. — via USA.gov

Judiciary Launches New Federal Ticket Processing Website

Individuals can now pay tickets for minor federal violations more easily, using a redesigned website for the Judiciary’s Central Violations Bureau. The website, officially launched in early May, leverages new technologies and best design practices to improve usability and accessibility across devices, including smart phones. — via Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts

The 18F design chapter

Designing technology-enabled public services requires deep expertise in how different elements of the experience come together (or don’t!). The 18F design chapter comprises four discipline-specific cohorts — service design, user experience (UX) design, product design, and content strategy — each of which has a primary focus, with corresponding tools, methods, and techniques. — via 18F

18F Checks in With the Dawson Project at the U.S. Tax Court

In December 2020, the United States Tax Court introduced DAWSON, a modern open-source case management system developed with assistance from an industry partner and 18F. DAWSON streamlined Court operations and changed the way the public interacts with the Court. — via 18F

Introducing the new USA.gov

We’re excited to share that the new USA.gov and USAGov en Español are live. However, we’re not finished. See what we’ll be working on in the future. — via USA.gov

Modernizing a federal government website with user-centered design

In this blog post, we break down our process for redesigning a federal government website (onrr.gov) into six detailed sections. This blog serves as a helpful guide for other agencies looking to do a major website redesign. — via Office of Natural Resources Revenue