NIH PDC UX Redesign

Reimagining the learning portal experience for NIH’s Program Directors’ Coalition with accessible design, improved usability, and content architecture aligned to learner needs.

Final NIH PDC Homepage Redesign Preview

Project Overview

The NIH Program Directors’ Coalition (PDC) needed to redesign its internal learning and resource portal to better support onboarding, knowledge sharing, and professional development. The legacy platform was difficult to navigate, visually outdated, and lacked accessibility compliance.

Through a UX audit, stakeholder interviews, and content mapping, we redesigned the SharePoint-based experience with accessible layouts, clearer learning pathways, and modular job aids that aligned with NIH’s diversity, equity, and inclusion goals.

UX Research & Audit Highlights

Stakeholder Interviews

Interviewed program directors and NIH staff to identify learning pain points, navigation issues, and barriers to accessing critical job resources.

Heuristic & Accessibility Review

Audited the legacy portal using UX heuristics and WCAG 2.1 standards to address layout inconsistencies, color contrast issues, and non-compliant elements.

Learning Content Strategy

Reorganized materials into modular, task-based blocks using clear headings, scannable text, and just-in-time support aligned to real workflows.

Design Process

I led an iterative design process rooted in accessibility and instructional clarity—from early wireframes to stakeholder-tested, high-fidelity prototypes. Each version was refined to improve navigation, surface key learning resources, and meet Section 508 standards.

Low-Fidelity Wireframes

Wireframe 1 Wireframe 2 Wireframe 3 Wireframe 4 Wireframe 5

High-Fidelity Concepts

Hi-Fi Option 1 Hi-Fi Option 2 Hi-Fi Option 3

Impact & Key Takeaways

The redesigned NIH PDC learning portal improved usability, accessibility, and learner support. The updated structure helped NIH staff access onboarding materials, key resources, and strategic content more efficiently—while ensuring compliance with Section 508 and federal UX guidelines.

  • ✅ Restructured learning content into clear, modular pathways aligned with user needs.
  • ✅ Applied WCAG 2.1 and Section 508 standards across all interface components.
  • ✅ Increased clarity and engagement through improved hierarchy and scannability.
  • ✅ Delivered a responsive, scalable solution adopted as a design model by other NIH teams.