The challenge
Our team built a user-centric prototype of an updated FedRAMP marketplace in 60 days. We collaborated with FedRAMP and 18F during the full project. I served as the visual designer and UX specialist.
Discovery
After a few chats and in-person meetings to bring us up to speed on FedRAMP and our tasks and goals, we established our three persona groups as:
- The Office of Management and Budget / FedRAMP staff
- Agency Users
- Cloud Service Providers
We set up ten interviews with users from these persona groups using a different set of questions for each group. Examples of some of these questions are:
"Talk me through which metrics are valuable in evaluating FedRAMP?" (OMB/FedRAMP staff"
"How do you define FedRAMP success?" (All three groups)
"Tell me what information you need for CSP evaluation." (Agencies)
The answers to these questions were synthesized into a report and helped define our user stories. These, along with overall project goals, built our backlog.
Wireframes & ideation
Quick workshops started defining our proposed solutions. I also began exploring visual style options building on the US Web Design System. I created wireframes and user flows, and I led the presentation of these solutions to the full team. Our user research was essential in this phase, especially when deciding what information to display on individual service/offering details and their hierarchy. After quick feedback and iterations we had our solutions in place.
Mockups were created then shared and tested internally. Due to the 60 day timeline, we only tested internally during this phase.
Prototype & testing
Working closely with the development team throughout the project helped us get a testable prototype up quickly. We facilitated ten usability testing session with users from all three persona groups. These results were presented to the full team, and changes were suggested, mocked up, then implemented and tested again.
The core functionality tested well and required very few improvements. The majority of our changes were content addition, organization, and priority based.
Results
The prototype was delivered several days early and was shortly available on .
Our documentation and artifacts were handed over and the product continues to evolve!
