U.S. DOL Digital Modernization Initiative
Department of Labor Website & Intranet
As Lead UX SME for DOL.gov, I led the modernization of two high-impact platforms, the public-facing DOL.gov forms page, DOL’s most frequently accessed transactional page, and Labornet, the internal employee intranet.
Together, these initiatives demonstrated how thoughtful, journey-centric, AI-enhanced UX design can reduce friction, increase access, and better align government content delivery with public service goals.
Both projects prioritized user journey-centered design, accessibility, and human-AI collaboration. I focused on optimizing task completion using 508-compliant components and scalable content strategies, while integrating AI-driven tools to streamline workflows and enhance front-end personalization.
Labornet Modernization
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The U.S. Department of Labor’s public Forms page and internal Labornet intranet were high-traffic platforms hindered by fragmented structure, poor search functionality, and content sprawl — making it difficult for users to find what they needed quickly or independently. These experiences created friction, undermined service delivery, and excluded users with accessibility or language needs.
In response, I led modernization pilots focused on designing accessible, scalable, and human-centered experiences that leveraged the strategic use of AI tooling and automation. My goal was to reduce cognitive load, improve multilingual and localized access, and surface the most relevant content at the right time.
Key elements of my solution included:
AI-enhanced faceted search to streamline navigation and improve information discovery
Agentic AI prototypes to explore personalized wayfinding and task routing
Metadata-driven content architecture for multilingual scalability and improved relevance
Modular, WCAG-compliant UI patterns to future-proof content delivery across platforms
A systems-based approach that aligned user needs with agency goals, internal content owner workflows, and federal digital policy (21st Century IDEA, M-22-23)
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Challenges
Fragmented content ecosystems with minimal structure or search functionality.
Legacy tools not optimized for mobile, accessibility, or modern information-seeking behavior.
High content volume with limited metadata and inconsistent formatting across agencies.
Opportunities
Organizational momentum to improve internal and public service tools under the 21st Century IDEA Act.
Space to experiment with agentic AI for content filtering, smart search, and user-facing recommendations.
Direct access to subject matter experts and content owners for iterative collaboration.
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Outcomes
Designed and prototyped an AI-powered faceted search and agent interface for the Forms page
Developed scalable frameworks for metadata, multilingual UX, and human-AI content delivery
Modernized Labornet homepage with modular content and improved intranet wayfinding
Influenced internal roadmap discussions for broader AI integration and search redesign across DOL
Key Takeaways
AI can amplify accessibility and personalization when grounded in human-centered design
Strategic prototyping enables fast iteration and policy-aligned innovation in government environments
Modernization isn’t just about updating UIs or design systems — it’s about restructuring information to reduce effort, empower users, and ensure evolving needs are met through data, empathy-driven research, and human-centered innovation.