Project Type: UX/UI Design and Research

Role: UX Researcher and Design Strategist

Organization: 10x in collaboration with DOJ

Timeline: 7 months

Team Size: 7 members

10x Forms Platform

As part of 10x, I am helping create a no-code form-builder that is accessible and federally compliant. As lead UX designer, my goal is to improve the experience for two sets of users – those that are creating forms and those that are completing forms.

I joined the project during the delivery phase, building off of existing designs and code. This project is ongoing, and we aim to deliver an MVP to the Department of Justice’s Office of the Pardon Attorney.

Background

Starting in 2024, fillable PDFs are not allowed for public digital forms. Many agencies lack the resources to create compliant versions of all their forms, and there are limited compliant options available for Federal data.

The 10x Forms Platform offers a solution, enabling agencies to provide a better digital experience for all users on any device.

Improving the UX/UI of the current tool

I conducted a robust design audit of the tool, which involved assessing the user journey for key workflows, as well as the usability of 17 components (e.g., short answer, long answer, multiple choice).

As a result of this audit, I improved the UI for all components (in both the form-builder and form-filler views) and identified missing interactions in key workflows. I also detailed error messages and redesigned the 'Add element' menu for better usability.

Form-builder view: Adding supplementary information to a question

Form-filler view: Revealing supplementary information in the accordion

Creating new components for the MVP (and a design system)

To meet MVP requirements, I designed new form functionalities like multiple entries and logic. This process involved:

  • Using insights from previous research

  • Analyzing similar platforms (e.g., Suffolk County Forms, Google Forms)

  • Following best practices from government design systems (e.g., U.S. Web Design System, GOV.UK)

  • Testing new ideas with DOJ partners and legal aides

The components are based on the US Web Design System (USWDS), ensuring they are responsive and meet security and accessibility standards. The goal is to share them with USWDS for use in other accessible, mobile-friendly government sites.

Form-filler view (mobile): Adding 1+ response to this question

Form-builder adds skip logic to a question. We kept this as simple as possible by setting logic at the top of the page and hiding the rest.

Meeting user needs and MVP timelines

A classic design challenge is delivering a desirable and technically feasible solution within a given deadline. An example is the logic work.

In an initial prioritization exercise, our pilot partner identified logic as a requirement for the MVP. I mocked up ways for form builders to show or hide specific pages or questions based on a response. This involves:

  • Branching logic, which skips one or more pages based on a set of answers. This is helpful for eligibility screeners.

  • Skip logic, which hides questions based on an answer. This is helpful for skipping questions that are not relevant.

Considering the technical complexity of logic, however, we had to scope down the designs to deliver on time for the MVP - all without compromising the overall user experience.

After rounds of iterations, user testing, and discussions, we were able to align on a scope of work that enabled the engineers to meet both user needs and deadlines.