Delivering a Modern, Accessible, and User-Centric Federal Website

The U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) serves as a cornerstone of America’s agricultural economy, providing essential resources to farmers, researchers, policymakers, and the public. As part of its commitment to innovation and customer experience, USDA launched the Web Modernization Initiative to improve integrated digital experience, accessibility, and service delivery through its flagship website, USDA.gov which receives over 222 million page views annually.

The Challenge

USDA.gov faced several challenges:

• Outdated Design: The site lacked a modern, intuitive interface, limiting user engagement.
• Navigation Complexity: Content was difficult to find, impacting user experience.
• Aging Content Management System: Built on an older version of Drupal nearing end-of-life, the site required an upgrade to maintain security, support, and compliance.
• Accessibility Gaps: The site needed to meet and exceed federal accessibility standards to serve all users, including those with disabilities.
• Device Compatibility: With increasing mobile users, USDA.gov required a fully responsive design for seamless use across devices.
• Inefficient Content Management: Manual processes for creating and managing content led to inefficiencies and inconsistencies.

USDA needed a partner to address these challenges while ensuring alignment with GSA web standards (the U.S. Web Design System – USWDS) and Federal web standards and  guidelines such as OMB M-22-23 and Section 508.

The Solution

RIVA Solutions collaborated closely with USDA’s Office of Communications (OC), Office of the Chief Information Officer (OCIO), and Office of Customer Experience (OCX) to redesign USDA.gov.

Our approach focused on human-centered design (HCD), leveraging data, user research, content strategy, and federal best practices to guide decision-making:

• User-Experience Research: Conducted user surveys, interviews, and traffic analysis to identify pain points and optimize user journeys. Engaged stakeholders across USDA agencies to align business needs with customer expectations.
• Data-Driven Design: Triangulated insights from research activities to inform design approach and content strategy. Streamlined navigation and restructured menus to improve findability and reduce friction.
• Enhanced Accessibility: Implemented improvements to exceed Section 508 compliance and USWDS (U.S. Web Design System) guidelines, ensuring usability for all.
• Mobile Optimization: Delivered a fully responsive design, providing a consistent and seamless experience on desktops, tablets, and mobile devices.
• Robust User Testing and Feedback: Facilitated user research workshops, conducted usability testing, and iterated designs based on stakeholder input to ensure the platform met USDA’s standards of excellence.
• Content Management Efficiency: Optimized page-building workflows to reduce manual tasks and ensure consistent, dynamic content delivery.
• Upgraded Drupal CMS Implemented Drupal 10, providing the up-to-date security and content management feature sets.

The Results

The newly redesigned USDA.gov launched as a best-in-class federal website, delivering measurable improvements:

• Modernized User Experience: A fresh, intuitive design provides users with seamless, efficient access to critical resources.
• Improved Accessibility: Exceeded federal compliance standards, ensuring usability for all, including individuals with disabilities.
• Streamlined Navigation: Content is now organized for efficiency, enabling users to find information they need quickly.
• Mobile-Friendly Design: USDA.gov is now fully optimized for any device, increasing accessibility for on-the-go users.
• Operational Efficiency: Reduced manual content management processes, improving site consistency and team productivity.
• User and Stakeholder Satisfaction: Extensive testing and feedback ensured the site meets USDA’s diverse audience needs.

RIVA combines expertise in human-centered design, agile Drupal development, and federal IT modernization to deliver impactful digital experiences. Our partnership with USDA demonstrates our ability to:

• Align technology with mission-critical objectives.
• Leverage research and data to inform design decisions.
• Build scalable, user-focused platforms that exceed accessibility standards.

Looking Ahead

The redesign of USDA.gov is just the beginning. RIVA Solutions remains committed to supporting USDA’s digital transformation initiatives, ensuring the website continues to evolve with user needs and emerging technologies.

Ready to modernize your agency’s digital experience?

For federal website solutions, RIVA utilizes our prove Integrated Digital Experience (iDX) framework, which utilizes human center design to combine user experience design, content strategy, and Drupal CMS implementation. Contact RIVA Solutions to learn how we can deliver optimal outcomes for your organization.