Case Study
Sr. Experience Designer
Overview
Data.CMS.gov is a platform with hundreds of datasets, tools, and updates used by providers, researchers, and policymakers. A key challenge was that users had no clear way to discover the latest updates. This led to confusion, missed changes, and additional support needs.
My task was to design a “What’s New” section to highlight important updates and product releases in a way that was clear, scannable, and accessible.
The Problem
How do you keep users informed on a platform where updates are constant, technical, and sometimes overwhelming, without disrupting their primary task of exploring data?
“We shouldn’t have to hunt to know what’s changed transparency is key.”
-Client
The Approach
I led the end-to-end design of the feature, focusing on clarity, scalability, and alignment with federal accessibility standards.
- Researched how other large data/product platforms surface updates (e.g., GitHub, SaaS dashboards, news feeds).
- Prioritized clarity and scannability so users could see what’s new at a glance.
- Balanced breadth and depth: providing both quick highlights and expandable detail views.
- Designed with accessibility and consistency to ensure adoption within the federal design system.
The Solution
The final design introduces a two-part experience:
- Spotlight Card: visually highlights major updates such as redesigns or new datasets.
- Expandable List: organizes updates by type (data, subtopic, product), with the ability to drill down for details.
- Filters & View All: allow power users to navigate across multiple categories quickly.
This balance ensures casual visitors and advanced users alike can stay current without friction.
“This feature immediately made the site feel more transparent and trustworthy.”
-Client
The Impact
- Improved user confidence in finding the latest data updates.
- Reduced support requests related to “what’s changed.”
- Reduced user confusion by surfacing updates proactively.
- Provided CMS with a scalable way to highlight announcements without disrupting the core data flow.
- Strengthened trust and transparency by aligning with digital service best practices.
“The What’s New section gave us a consistent way to highlight updates without adding friction.
It’s a small feature that made a big difference.”
-Client
