EdData Express Website Redesign
The ED Data Express website is designed to provide access to data on preschool through grade 12 education, including information on funding, participation, and performance across federal education programs. It also offers tools for users to customize, visualize, and download data.
The primary goal of this redesign was to improve usability and accessibility by helping users navigate complex datasets more efficiently. The focus was on enabling users to find reports, generate visualizations, and extract key insights without confusion. A clean, modern interface was introduced to build trust and make data more approachable and easier to interpret.
Project Details
Type: Government Website Redesign
Timeline: June 2024
Tools: Figma, Google Forms, Google Sheets
My Role
1. Conducted user research and usability testing to identify pain points
2. Developed user personas to guide design decisions
3. Analyzed qualitative and quantitative data from user feedback
4. Defined content strategy to improve clarity and readability
5. Structured information architecture to simplify navigation and data access.
Project Overview
The Problem
1. Outdated Design
The ED Data Express website, last updated in 2011, lacks a modern visual identity. This outdated appearance reduces user trust and weakens overall engagement, particularly for first-time visitors expecting a credible government resource.
2. Information Overload
The homepage presents a large volume of content without a clear visual hierarchy. As a result, users struggle to quickly locate relevant data, leading to confusion and increased cognitive load.
The Solution
1. Visual Design Update
A clean, modern interface was introduced using updated typography, a refined color palette, and consistent visual components. These changes improve usability while reinforcing credibility and trust.
2. Content Simplification
The homepage was restructured into clearly defined, digestible sections. This reduces cognitive load, improves scanability, and helps users navigate more efficiently to key information.
User Interface Analysis
Statement
Users visit the ED Data Express website to access detailed data from the U.S. Department of Education, including metrics such as student achievement, graduation rates, and academic progress.
The platform serves a diverse audience—educators, policymakers, researchers, and parents—who rely on accurate and accessible data to make informed decisions. Because of this, clarity, usability, and efficient navigation are critical to the overall user experience.
User Path Samples
User path samples demonstrate how different user groups navigate the platform to achieve specific goals. These paths help identify friction points and inform design decisions.
Educator
Goal: Find student performance data for a specific school or district
Path: Homepage → Data Tools → Select Filters (State, District, School) → View Results
Parent
Goal: Understand how a local school is performing
Path: Homepage → Search School → View Key Metrics → Compare Schools
Researcher / Policymaker
Goal: Analyze national or state-level education trends
Path: Homepage → Explore Data → Apply Filters → Export or Review Reports
Sample1
Sample 2
Home Page Annotations
Home Page Annotations
The ED Data Express homepage annotations outline the purpose and functionality of each section, demonstrating how the design guides users toward key tasks and data entry points.
They highlight critical elements such as primary navigation, search and filtering entry points, and calls to action that enable quick access to reports and datasets. Special attention is given to content hierarchy and visual cues, ensuring users can easily scan the page and identify where to begin.
These annotations reflect deliberate design decisions aimed at reducing cognitive load, improving a way finding, and aligning the interface with user goals—ultimately supporting more efficient data discovery and exploration.
Data Download Page Annotations
The Data Download page annotations detail how users locate, filter, and export datasets, highlighting the structure and functionality that support a smooth download experience.
They call out key elements such as filter controls, dataset selection, file format options, and download actions. Additional focus is placed on clarifying required steps before export, ensuring users understand what selections are needed to successfully retrieve data.
These annotations reflect design decisions aimed at increasing transparency, reducing user error, and simplifying complex interactions. By making the download process more intuitive and predictable, the interface better supports users in efficiently accessing the data they need.
Heuristic Evaluation Checklist
The Data Download page annotations demonstrate how users locate, filter, and export datasets, highlighting the structure and functionality that enable a seamless download experience.
They identify key elements such as filter controls, dataset selection, file format options, and download actions, with particular emphasis on clarifying required steps before export. This ensures users understand exactly what is needed to successfully retrieve data.
These annotations reflect intentional design decisions to increase transparency, reduce user error, and simplify complex interactions. The result is a more intuitive and predictable download process that allows users to access data efficiently and with confidence.
Information Architecture
Solution
To improve usability, the ED Data Express website was restructured by modernizing the layout and breaking content into smaller, more manageable sections. This approach reduces cognitive overload and helps users more easily find and understand relevant data.
To simplify navigation, a card sorting exercise was conducted using the UXtweak platform. This method provided insight into how users naturally group information, informing a more intuitive and user-centered site structure.
Key Insights from Card Sorting
Diverse Opinions Due to Unfamiliarity:
Participants had varied opinions on how to categorize the information.
Need for Renaming Categories:
The current category names may not be intuitive or clear to users. Renaming the categories to better reflect the content and purpose of each section could improve navigation and user experience.
Consistency in Exploring Grant Programs:
Most participants grouped options related to exploring grant programs in a similar manner.
Consistency in ‘About Us’ and ‘Contact Us’:
There was strong consistency in how participants categorized the ‘About Us’ and ‘Contact Us’ sections.
Inconsistent Mental Models
Participants demonstrated varied approaches to categorizing content, largely due to unfamiliarity with the subject matter. This highlighted the need for clearer structure and guidance within the navigation.
Need for Clearer Category Labels
Several existing category names were unclear or too technical. Renaming these categories to better reflect their content and purpose improves usability and reduces confusion.
Strong Patterns in Task-Oriented Content
Participants consistently grouped content related to exploring grant programs, suggesting these features should be centralized and easily accessible.
High Agreement on Standard Sections
There was strong alignment in how users categorized “About Us” and “Contact Us,” reinforcing the value of keeping these sections in conventional, expected locations.
Design Impact
These insights directly informed a simplified navigation system with clearer labeling, improved grouping of related content, and a structure that better aligns with user expectations. As a result, users can navigate the site more efficiently and locate key information with less effort.
New Site Map
Low Fidelity Wireframes
Low-fidelity wireframes were created to explore layout solutions focused on reducing cognitive overload. At this stage, the goal was to prioritize information hierarchy, simplify navigation, and validate core user flows before moving into high-fidelity design.
Responsive Design
Responsive design ensures the website adapts seamlessly across desktops, tablets, and mobile devices. Content, navigation, and CTAs adjust to different screen sizes to maintain usability and readability. This approach provides a consistent, accessible experience for all users regardless of device.
Mobile Wireframes
Desktop Wireframes
Desktop
ED DATA EXPRESS Home Page
Usability Test
To evaluate the effectiveness of the redesigned ED Data Express website, usability testing was conducted with participants representing a mix of experience levels with educational data (beginners to moderately experienced users).
Objectives
Assess how easily users can find and explore data
Evaluate clarity of navigation and labeling
Test the usability of the filtering system
Identify any remaining confusion or friction points
Task 1
If you want to contact the Ed Data Express on the mobile version how would you do this?
Task 2
If you want to understand the meaning of every different grant program available on the Ed Data Express app, where would you go?
Task 3
If you want to find out what kind of information is linked to Data Spotlight what would you do ?
Users’ Feedback
Key Findings
1. Improved Task Completion
Most users successfully completed tasks without assistance.
Clear entry points (search + quick access cards) reduced hesitation.
“It’s much easier to know where to start now.”
2. Navigation is More Intuitive
Simplified menu and structure helped users find data faster.
Card sorting-informed categories aligned better with expectations.
“The categories make more sense compared to before.”
3. Filtering Still Needs Minor Refinement
Users understood filters but expected: More immediate feedback
Clearer labeling in some cases
“I wasn’t sure if the filter applied right away.”
4. Better Understanding of Data
Context sections and labels improved comprehension.
Users appreciated brief explanations before visualizations.
“The short descriptions really help me understand what I’m looking at.”
5. Guidance Increased Confidence
“How it works” section and help features reduced confusion.
First-time users felt more comfortable navigating the site.
“Now I feel like I know what to do next.”
Iterations Based on Testing
Following usability testing , several changes were made:
1.Improved filter feedback (e.g. , active states, visual confirmation)
2. Simplified filter labels for clarity.
3. Enhanced visibility of key actions (Download, Share).
Conclusion
Usability testing validated that the redesign significantly improved usability by simplifying navigation, reducing cognitive overload, and providing clearer guidance. Iterative refinements further enhanced the overall user experience, making the platform more accessible and intuitive for a broader audience.
Final Look Home Page Desktop And Mobile
Final Thougthts
The redesign of the ED Data Express website was a valuable learning experience that highlighted the responsibility designers carry when working with complex, public-facing data. Throughout the process, it became clear that the true value of educational data lies not only in its accuracy, but in how effectively users can access, understand, and apply it.
Early research revealed that many usability challenges stemmed from cognitive overload, unclear terminology, and navigation structures that assumed prior knowledge. Addressing these issues required a careful balance—simplifying the experience without compromising the depth and integrity of the data.
Iterative testing and user feedback played a critical role in shaping design decisions. This process reinforced that simplification is not about removing complexity, but about making it more approachable and usable for a wider audience.
Ultimately, this project underscored the importance of empathy in data-driven design. Users approach platforms with varying levels of expertise and different goals, yet all depend on clear, accessible information to make informed decisions. Thoughtful UX design can bridge the gap between data and understanding, transforming ED Data Express into a more intuitive, inclusive, and impactful tool for supporting educational outcomes.