NIH COSWD UX Audit

A comprehensive website audit focused on improving accessibility, usability, and content clarity for NIH’s Office of Scientific Workforce Diversity.

Mockup of NIH COSWD website redesign on laptop and mobile devices

Project Overview

I led a UX audit and redesign effort for the NIH Office of Scientific Workforce Diversity (COSWD). The goal was to enhance the usability, accessibility, and clarity of their existing site while aligning with federal guidelines and agency goals. My role involved evaluating content structure, identifying accessibility barriers, and proposing user-centered improvements based on stakeholder input.

The audit focused on making the site more inclusive, easier to navigate, and optimized for mobile devices. Design solutions prioritized plain language, clear information hierarchy, and WCAG-compliant practices.

UX Process

  • Heuristic Review: Audited existing NIH COSWD website for usability issues, accessibility violations (WCAG), and redundant content.
  • Stakeholder Interviews: Gathered feedback from NIH staff on site priorities, pain points, and expectations.
  • Content Mapping: Restructured information architecture to reduce overwhelm and improve discoverability of resources.
  • Low-Fidelity Wireframes: Created early layout concepts to realign content flow and navigation paths.
  • High-Fidelity Prototypes: Delivered accessible, mobile-friendly mockups using Adobe XD, integrating updated typography, visuals, and layout grids.

Design Explorations

Below are several high-fidelity design concepts created during the NIH COSWD redesign process. These visuals reflect exploration of layout variations, strategic messaging, and content accessibility.

Implicit Bias Design

Implicit-Bias Design

Seminar Series page

Seminar Series

Build Evidence landing

Build the Evidence Landing Page

Diversity Statement v1

Diversity Statement v1

Diversity Statement v2

Diversity Statement v2

Impact & Outcomes

The redesign of the NIH COSWD website successfully addressed key usability, accessibility, and structural issues. Post-launch analytics showed increased user engagement and lower bounce rates. Feedback from stakeholders highlighted improved navigation and clearer information pathways, particularly for researchers and administrative staff.

  • ✅ Website met WCAG 2.1 accessibility standards
  • ✅ Improved navigation structure with responsive layouts
  • ✅ Reduced content overload through streamlined page hierarchy
  • ✅ Increased stakeholder confidence through transparent design reviews
  • ✅ Enhanced overall user satisfaction based on usability feedback