As the agency responsible for California’s housing policies and programs, HCD serves a broad and diverse public audience—from renters and developers to local governments and advocacy organizations. But the agency’s public website had become difficult to navigate, with dense content, unclear pathways, and a fragmented structure.

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I led a complete UX and information architecture redesign to make sense of a maze of content and improve how people find what they need. Through stakeholder interviews, focus groups, and user testing, I uncovered critical usability issues and surfaced the unique needs of each audience. The result was a restructured navigation system, simplified content strategy, and scalable UX patterns that make it easier for users to find resources, understand programs, and get services.

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Beyond usability, the site lacked a sense of humanity—it didn’t reflect the real people and communities HCD serves. I worked closely with the communications department to design a website that makes space for storytelling and impact—allowing the agency to better connect with users on both a practical and emotional level.

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With dozens of departments, services, and funding programs to account for, the project required designing for flexibility—balancing technical clarity with user empathy. I developed detailed user flows, a comprehensive design system, and high-fidelity prototypes, culminating in a modern, accessible site that supports both HCD’s mission and the people it serves.

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The design work is wrapped; development is now underway!