Moving CDC.Gov Forward

Background: In 2010, the White House Digital Strategy was presented confirming CDC’s objectives to (1) increase access to high quality government information anywhere, anytime on any device, (2) improve information and data management, and (3) simplify access to government data to spur innovation and improve customer service. To meet these objectives, the CDC.gov team implemented Responsive Design (RD) templates for use on all CDC.gov sites via a Web Content Management System (WCMS). We will discuss how these templates are critical in supporting a mobile-first strategy. We will also provide an overview of our approach to design,  usability testing, Quality Assurance (QA) testing, and how these efforts help ensure CDC.gov meets current and future user needs.

Program background: In 2009, there were more than 330,000 web pages on the CDC.gov web site. CDC’s programs relied on various systems to control site updates. Each system had to be managed separately making it difficult to publish information without technical assistance from developers. Additionally, CDC’s mobile web site, m.cdc.gov, is not compatible with many mobile platforms and browsers and required additional maintenance and support. In response to the White House Digital Strategy, the CDC.gov team implemented a WCMS in 2011 to help manage all web content more efficiently and effectively. Soon thereafter, the team began a major renovation of the CDC.gov web templates. The goal was to optimize users’ experience with content across many mobile platforms and browsers, extend content display features, and modernize the look and feel of the site. This transition to RD was a critical step in supporting our mobile-first strategy for CDC.gov.

Evaluation Methods and Results: Usability testing was conducted with over 30 users to identify possible improvements to the core template features and navigation. QA testing was completed in over 30 environments and several design iterations were reviewed with stakeholders across the CDC web community. As a result of these evaluation efforts, several functional and visual design enhancements were incorporated into the final RD templates launched in 2013. They currently support over 50 features through a WCMS interface.

Conclusions: Transitioning CDC.gov into Responsive Design (RD) templates through a Web Content Management System (WCMS) addresses the goals of the White House Digital Strategy. The use of RD templates optimizes users’ experience with CDC.gov content across many mobile platforms and browsers, reduces maintenance effort, and helps ensure CDC.gov is prepared to meet the needs of users now and as mobile technology continues to evolve.

Implications for research and/or practice: Choosing a Responsive Design (RD) approach is a strategic web content delivery decision and requires a detailed understanding of communication goals, user needs, and mobile technology. During this session, we will share some of our lessons learned through the design and testing process.