Guides and Resources

Introduction to design systems

If your organization needs to ensure compliance with a design standard or align to a brand, a design system can help you achieve those goals …
How to Test Websites for Accessibility

Use both manual and automated testing methods to create accessible websites.
USWDS Maturity Model

How to adopt the design system incrementally and design and build better digital experiences.
21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act

21st Century IDEA aims to improve the digital experience for government customers.
Best Practices for Writing for the Accessible Web

Tips for making online information accessible for those with auditory and visual needs.
The website standards

As defined in 21st Century IDEA, the Design System incorporates federal standards to improve federal websites and digital services.
Federal Web Council

A cross-agency group that is working together to improve the delivery of U.S. government information and services online.

Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR)

The primary regulation for use by all executive agencies in their acquisition of supplies and services with appropriated funds. The FAR also …
Find Your Section 508 Program Manager

Agency Section 508 Program Managers (PMs) are your first point of contact for questions about IT accessibility.
Tabular Comparison of the Previous FAR Text Against the 2021 Update

These FAR Council updates are effective as of September 10, 2021.
Integrating Accessibility into Agency Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (DEIA) Implementation Plans

Guidance on implementing Executive Order (14035) on Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce; specifically, …
Accessibility Requirements Tool (ART)

ART is a multifaceted tool that offers interactive, step-by-step guidance on how to determine applicable accessibility requirements.
Federal Acquisition Regulation Subpart 39.2 - Information and Communication Technology

This subpart implements section 508 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 (29 U.S.C. 794 d), and the Architectural and Transportation Barriers …
Lessons from the 2021 Federal Plain Language Report Card

This event recap highlights best practices, a short case study video, and examples of federal web content that received both high and low …
How to Test Websites for Accessibility

Use both manual and automated testing methods to create accessible websites.
Guidelines for Digital.gov event presenters

A checklist of requirements for people who are presenting at a Digital.gov event.
An Introduction to USWDS 3.0

A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American …

Foundations of Agile, Part I

18F’s Alan Atlas and Alan Brouilette cover the fundamentals of Agile.
Foundations of Agile, Part II

18F’s Alan Atlas and Alan Brouilette cover the fundamentals of Agile.
18F De-risking Guides

The Federal Field Guide to De-risk Government Technology offers guidance to federal agencies on how to structure software development teams, …
18F Guide to Product Management

Best practices on doing product management well
18F Methods

A collection of tools that describe how teams can put human-centered design into practice.

How to start and sustain a federal podcast

Discover how to create and maintain a successful podcast at your federal agency.
How to Present Like a Pro

Wendy Wagner-Smith of the Small Business Administration (SBA) shares her tips and tricks for presenting virtually.
Guidelines for Digital.gov event presenters

A checklist of requirements for people who are presenting at a Digital.gov event.

Guidance on the Use of Challenges and Prizes to Promote Open Government

In September 2009, the President released his Strategy for American Innovation, calling for agencies to increase their ability to promote …

An Introduction to USWDS 3.0

A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American …
USWDS Maturity Model

How to adopt the design system incrementally and design and build better digital experiences.
An introduction to GitHub

Steps for managing website content in GitHub.

Tips for Starting Your Customer Experience Journey

Low-cost, low-lift actions that any federal employee can take to improve customer experience.
Contact Center Operation and Management

Many things can impact the service quality, economics, and sustainability of your government contact center. This section provides insight …
Contact Center Technologies

A contact center is supported by many technologies designed to enhance the customer experience, improve the operating and management …
Getting Started with your Contact Center

This guide provides you with the information to get a governement contact center started
Contact Center Guidelines

Contact Centers are becoming the hub for federal agencies to gather valuable, decision-making data to meet their missions. The Contact …

Content

Introduction to translation technology

What is translation technology? This introductory resource will help you understand how and when to use translation technology to provide …
Lessons from the 2021 Federal Plain Language Report Card

This event recap highlights best practices, a short case study video, and examples of federal web content that received both high and low …
Multilingual Huddle: Designing for Translation

In this webinar, Laura Godfrey and Fedora Braverman share tips for translating content in the digital context.
Bilingual Glossaries, Dictionaries, and Style Guides

Multilingual resources to standardize the use of various languages across government.
PlainLanguage.gov

A resource to help federal employees write in plain language and comply with the Plain Writing Act of 2010.
Required web content and links

Various policies require you to have certain content—or provide links to content—from specific places on your website.
Hurricane Idalia guidance for U.S. government websites and social media

Addressing web and digital communications related to Hurricane Idalia
Hawaii wildfires guidance for U.S. government websites and social media

Addressing web and digital communications related to Hawaii wildfires
18F Methods

A collection of tools that describe how teams can put human-centered design into practice.
Style Guides by Government Agencies

This page is a collection of style guides created by government agencies.

Content Strategy

Introduction to translation technology

What is translation technology? This introductory resource will help you understand how and when to use translation technology to provide …
Multilingual Huddle: Designing for Translation

In this webinar, Laura Godfrey and Fedora Braverman share tips for translating content in the digital context.
Content Management Systems Used by Government Agencies

A list of Content Management Systems (CMS) used by government agencies.
Required web content and links

Various policies require you to have certain content—or provide links to content—from specific places on your website.
Hurricane Idalia guidance for U.S. government websites and social media

Addressing web and digital communications related to Hurricane Idalia
Hawaii wildfires guidance for U.S. government websites and social media

Addressing web and digital communications related to Hawaii wildfires
18F Methods

A collection of tools that describe how teams can put human-centered design into practice.

Crowdsourcing Toolkit for Federal Agencies

What is a Challenge? In a challenge, a “seeker” challenges “solvers” to identify a solution to a particular problem, or rewards contestants …

Embedding Equity in Civic Design to Transform Customer Experience

This case study describes how two civic designers at different agencies embed equity in civic design to transform federal customer …
How to Present Like a Pro

Wendy Wagner-Smith of the Small Business Administration (SBA) shares her tips and tricks for presenting virtually.
Department of Homeland Security: Usability Testing Kit

A resource with four approaches to help federal employees perform usability testing.
OMB Circular A-11 Section 280: Managing Customer Experience and Improving Service Delivery

Guidance on how to measure customer experience, including questions on satisfaction and confidence and trust in section 280.7
Guide to the Paperwork Reduction Act

A plain language guide which answers the most common questions to the PRA
Customer Experience Toolkit

This Toolkit is intended to help government agencies improve how we deliver services and information to the public.
Tips for Starting Your Customer Experience Journey

Low-cost, low-lift actions that any federal employee can take to improve customer experience.
Required web content and links

Various policies require you to have certain content—or provide links to content—from specific places on your website.
Contact Center Technologies

A contact center is supported by many technologies designed to enhance the customer experience, improve the operating and management …
Contact Center Guidelines

Contact Centers are becoming the hub for federal agencies to gather valuable, decision-making data to meet their missions. The Contact …

How to Build an Analytics Strategy

A case study using Digital.gov as an example of how to assess, report, and take action using web analytics as part of an analytics strategy.
Inventory.data.gov Guide

Introduction Features Using inventory.data.gov Creating a User Account Using inventory.data.gov to manage datasets Adding a Dataset …
How to Get Your Open Data on Data.gov

Find out below how federal, federal geospatial, and non-federal data is funneled to Data.gov and how you can get your data federated on …

Office of Personnel Management: Agency Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Accessibility Strategic Plan

OPM’s DEIA Strategic Plan identifies goals accompanied by actionable strategies that will advance our human capital priorities.
Office of Personnel Management: Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility

OPM’s governmentwide DEIA policies, guidance, and strategic plans, presidential executive orders, federal personnel programs, and …
Introduction to self-description

Help create inclusive digital spaces with these tips for using self-descriptions in virtual meetings or conference calls.
Embedding Equity in Civic Design to Transform Customer Experience

This case study describes how two civic designers at different agencies embed equity in civic design to transform federal customer …
Chief Diversity Officers Executive Council

Principal interagency forum to implement and sustain a national strategy for diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessibility across the …
Executive Order 14091

Further Advancing Racial Equity and Support for Underserved Communities Through the Federal Government
Government-wide DEIA: Our Progress and Path Forward to Building a Better Workforce for the American People

Office of Personnel Management (OPM) 2022 Annual Report
Government-Wide Strategic Plan to Advance Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce

Five foundational principles lay out key steps agencies can take to strengthen DEIA in their workforce policies, practices, and culture.
Executive Order 14035

Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility in the Federal Workforce
An introduction to pronouns

A guide for government employees and contractors to understand and use pronouns in the workplace.

An introduction to design requirements for federal websites

Guidance, resources, and community to help you use design and user experience to create government websites that meet customer needs, work …
Introduction to design systems

If your organization needs to ensure compliance with a design standard or align to a brand, a design system can help you achieve those goals …
Embedding Equity in Civic Design to Transform Customer Experience

This case study describes how two civic designers at different agencies embed equity in civic design to transform federal customer …
Lessons from the 2021 Federal Plain Language Report Card

This event recap highlights best practices, a short case study video, and examples of federal web content that received both high and low …
Multilingual Huddle: Designing for Translation

In this webinar, Laura Godfrey and Fedora Braverman share tips for translating content in the digital context.
Deceptive Design: How to Identify and Combat Consequence Design

Consequence design is part of everyday life. Deceptive techniques like “dark patterns” and “hostile design” trick people into taking …
Privacy-Preserving Collaboration Using Cryptography

In conjunction with her May 2020 presentation, Dr. Emily Shen outlines her work on Secure multi-party computation (MPC), a type of …
Addressing Barriers to User-Centered Design

An overview of the most common barriers and how federal agencies might address them.
The basics of human-centered design in government

How the Lab at OPM drives innovation through design education
An Introduction to USWDS 3.0

A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American …

Privacy-Preserving Collaboration Using Cryptography

In conjunction with her May 2020 presentation, Dr. Emily Shen outlines her work on Secure multi-party computation (MPC), a type of …

OMB Circular A-130

Managing Information as a Strategic Resource
OMB M-17-06

Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites and Digital Services
Required web content and links

Various policies require you to have certain content—or provide links to content—from specific places on your website.
Checklist of requirements for federal websites and digital services

Links to relevant laws, policies, and regulations for federal agencies.
2012 Digital Government Strategy

The 2012 Digital Government Strategy mission drives agencies, and the need to deliver better services to customers at a lower cost.

Web Analytics Playbook

Use these plays to help strategize how your team can most effectively use web analytics for your website and target audience.
How to Build an Analytics Strategy

A case study using Digital.gov as an example of how to assess, report, and take action using web analytics as part of an analytics strategy.
OMB M-17-06

Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites and Digital Services

Introduction to QR codes

What is a QR code and how can you create one? What are some alternatives to using QR codes? This introductory resource will help you explore …
An Introduction to USWDS 3.0

A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American …
Eight Principles of Mobile-Friendliness

Following these principles will help you make your site more usable and user-friendly.
How to track performance

A step-by-step guide to picking metrics and tools for tracking performance on your siteundefined
Mobile Development Strategies

The following is a list of the most common mobile development strategies.
A Guide to Creating Mobile-Friendly Websites

Based on a recent six-month study, this guide outlines the top five practices needed to improve the mobile-friendliness of federal websites: …
Connected Government Act

Resources to help your agency comply with the Connected Government Act.
Mobile User Experience Guidelines

Six user experience guidelines for creating a mobile product.
Mobile SOW and Developer Qualifications

Structuring a Statement of Work (SOW) for the development or modification of mobile products should be similar to any SOW your government …
Mobile Application Development Program

Helping agencies plan, develop, test and launch anytime, anywhere, any device mobile products and services for the public. Plan—Build a …

Introduction to translation technology

What is translation technology? This introductory resource will help you understand how and when to use translation technology to provide …
Multilingual Huddle: Designing for Translation

In this webinar, Laura Godfrey and Fedora Braverman share tips for translating content in the digital context.
Bilingual Glossaries, Dictionaries, and Style Guides

Multilingual resources to standardize the use of various languages across government.
Hurricane Idalia guidance for U.S. government websites and social media

Addressing web and digital communications related to Hurricane Idalia
Hawaii wildfires guidance for U.S. government websites and social media

Addressing web and digital communications related to Hawaii wildfires
Top 10 Best Practices for Multilingual Websites

Ten tips for creating and managing multilingual government websites.
Department of Justice 2022 Memo Reaffirming the Mandates of EO 13166

Executive Order 13166 was issued in August of 2000 and this memorandum reaffirms its mandate.
Improving Access to Services for People with Limited English Proficiency (Executive Order 13166)

EO 13166 requires federal agencies to examine the services they provide, identify any need for services to those with limited English …
Spanish Language Style Guide and Glossaries: Spanish Health Care Terms in the United States

A list of common English health care and medical terms, and their Spanish translations.
Spanish Language Style Guide and Glossaries: Internet Resources

A list of additional Internet resources to help standardize the use of Spanish across government.

Inventory.data.gov Guide

Introduction Features Using inventory.data.gov Creating a User Account Using inventory.data.gov to manage datasets Adding a Dataset …
How to Get Your Open Data on Data.gov

Find out below how federal, federal geospatial, and non-federal data is funneled to Data.gov and how you can get your data federated on …

Guide to the Paperwork Reduction Act

A plain language guide which answers the most common questions to the PRA
Paperwork Reduction Act (44 U.S.C. 3501 et seq.)

The Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) of 1995 requires that agencies obtain Office of Management and Budget (OMB) approval before requesting …
Social Media, Web-Based Interactive Technologies, and the Paperwork Reduction Act

This memo clarifies when and how the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA) applies to federal agency use of social media and web-based …
M-11-26 New Fast-Track Process for Collecting Service Delivery Feedback Under the Paperwork Reduction Act

The new Paperwork Reduction Act Fast Track Process will allow agencies to obtain timely feedback on service delivery while ensuring that …
Paperwork Reduction Act Fast Track Process

Protect Your Customer’s Privacy Federal agencies must follow various laws and regulations, including the Paperwork Reduction Act (PRA) and …

How to Build an Analytics Strategy

A case study using Digital.gov as an example of how to assess, report, and take action using web analytics as part of an analytics strategy.
How to track performance

A step-by-step guide to picking metrics and tools for tracking performance on your siteundefined

An introduction to plain language

Understand how and why to use plain language on government websites and other digital services
Lessons from the 2021 Federal Plain Language Report Card

This event recap highlights best practices, a short case study video, and examples of federal web content that received both high and low …
Multilingual Huddle: Designing for Translation

In this webinar, Laura Godfrey and Fedora Braverman share tips for translating content in the digital context.
How to Present Like a Pro

Wendy Wagner-Smith of the Small Business Administration (SBA) shares her tips and tricks for presenting virtually.
Bilingual Glossaries, Dictionaries, and Style Guides

Multilingual resources to standardize the use of various languages across government.
PlainLanguage.gov

A resource to help federal employees write in plain language and comply with the Plain Writing Act of 2010.
An introduction to accessibility

An introduction to accessibility, and why it matters.
Style Guides by Government Agencies

This page is a collection of style guides created by government agencies.
OMB Final Guidance on Implementing the Plain Writing Act of 2010 (M 11-15)

Provides final guidance on implementing the Plain Writing Act of 2010 and is designed to promote the goals of the president’s Open …
Plain Writing Act of 2010

The law requires that federal agencies provide clear communication about government information and services for the public.

M-19-17 Enabling Mission Delivery through Improved Identity, Credential, and Access Management

This 2019 memorandum sets forth the federal government’s Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) policy.
Chief Information Officer (CIO) Handbook

This handbook aims to give CIOs important information needed to be a technology leader at their respective agency.
OMB M-20-19

Harnessing Technology to Support Mission Continuity
OMB Circular A-11 Section 280: Managing Customer Experience and Improving Service Delivery

Guidance on how to measure customer experience, including questions on satisfaction and confidence and trust in section 280.7
Guide to the Paperwork Reduction Act

A plain language guide which answers the most common questions to the PRA
OMB Memos, Circulars, Executive Orders and Other Policies

Tech- and digital-related policies, memos, circulars and executive orders.
OMB Circular A-130

Managing Information as a Strategic Resource
OMB M-17-06

Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites and Digital Services
Required web content and links

Various policies require you to have certain content—or provide links to content—from specific places on your website.
Checklist of requirements for federal websites and digital services

Links to relevant laws, policies, and regulations for federal agencies.

Introduction to self-description

Help create inclusive digital spaces with these tips for using self-descriptions in virtual meetings or conference calls.
Guidelines for Digital.gov event presenters

A checklist of requirements for people who are presenting at a Digital.gov event.
An introduction to pronouns

A guide for government employees and contractors to understand and use pronouns in the workplace.

Privacy-Preserving Collaboration Using Cryptography

In conjunction with her May 2020 presentation, Dr. Emily Shen outlines her work on Secure multi-party computation (MPC), a type of …
Guidance for Implementing the Privacy Provisions of the E–Government Act of 2002 (M-03–22)

This guidance provides information to agencies on implementing the privacy provisions of the E-Government Act of 2002. It addresses privacy …

Foundations of Agile, Part I

18F’s Alan Atlas and Alan Brouilette cover the fundamentals of Agile.
Foundations of Agile, Part II

18F’s Alan Atlas and Alan Brouilette cover the fundamentals of Agile.
OMB M-20-19

Harnessing Technology to Support Mission Continuity
An Introduction to USWDS 3.0

A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American …
Eight Principles of Mobile-Friendliness

Following these principles will help you make your site more usable and user-friendly.
OMB Circular A-130

Managing Information as a Strategic Resource
OMB M-17-06

Policies for Federal Agency Public Websites and Digital Services
Tips for Starting Your Customer Experience Journey

Low-cost, low-lift actions that any federal employee can take to improve customer experience.
An introduction to accessibility

An introduction to accessibility, and why it matters.
Checklist of requirements for federal websites and digital services

Links to relevant laws, policies, and regulations for federal agencies.

How to Present Like a Pro

Wendy Wagner-Smith of the Small Business Administration (SBA) shares her tips and tricks for presenting virtually.

How to Build an Analytics Strategy

A case study using Digital.gov as an example of how to assess, report, and take action using web analytics as part of an analytics strategy.
Foundations of Agile, Part I

18F’s Alan Atlas and Alan Brouilette cover the fundamentals of Agile.
Foundations of Agile, Part II

18F’s Alan Atlas and Alan Brouilette cover the fundamentals of Agile.
18F De-risking Guides

The Federal Field Guide to De-risk Government Technology offers guidance to federal agencies on how to structure software development teams, …
18F Guide to Product Management

Best practices on doing product management well

18F Research Guidelines

Covers the basic principles research: informing and getting consent, and managing personally identifiable information (PII)
Addressing Barriers to User-Centered Design

An overview of the most common barriers and how federal agencies might address them.
Managing Research Projects Remotely

Best practices for distributed teams.
The basics of human-centered design in government

How the Lab at OPM drives innovation through design education
Stakeholder and User Interview Checklist

Key interview moments and how to navigate them.
Usability Testing with Steve Krug

Get started making usability fixes to your website or product.
Guide to the Paperwork Reduction Act

A plain language guide which answers the most common questions to the PRA
Tips for capturing the best data from user interviews

How to ensure the most useful information makes its way back to your team for further analysis
18F Methods

A collection of tools that describe how teams can put human-centered design into practice.

Privacy-Preserving Collaboration Using Cryptography

In conjunction with her May 2020 presentation, Dr. Emily Shen outlines her work on Secure multi-party computation (MPC), a type of …
M-19-17 Enabling Mission Delivery through Improved Identity, Credential, and Access Management

This 2019 memorandum sets forth the federal government’s Identity, Credential, and Access Management (ICAM) policy.
OMB Circular A-130

Managing Information as a Strategic Resource
How to Prevent Security Certificates From Expiring During a Lapse in Operations

These are the steps that people in government can take to avoid having security certificates expire during a lapse in operations.
Federal Information Security Management Act of 2002 – Presentation to the 2003 FISSEA Conference

The head of the agency delegates to the CIO a number of information security responsibilities. The CIO in turn designates a senior agency …
Social Media Cyber-Vandalism Toolkit

Cyber-vandalism presents a serious challenge to online-based communication tools. This document provides guidance and security practices to …

How to start and sustain a federal podcast

Discover how to create and maintain a successful podcast at your federal agency.
Introduction to QR codes

What is a QR code and how can you create one? What are some alternatives to using QR codes? This introductory resource will help you explore …
Hurricane Idalia guidance for U.S. government websites and social media

Addressing web and digital communications related to Hurricane Idalia
Hawaii wildfires guidance for U.S. government websites and social media

Addressing web and digital communications related to Hawaii wildfires
Guidelines for Secure Use of Social Media

Guidelines and recommendations for using social media technologies in a manner that minimizes risks are analyzed and presented in this …
NARA guidance on Managing Social Media Records

This Bulletin provides high-level record keeping requirements and best practices for capturing records created when federal agencies use …
Social Media, Web-Based Interactive Technologies, and the Paperwork Reduction Act

This memo clarifies when and how the Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 (the PRA) applies to federal agency use of social media and web-based …
Social Media Cyber-Vandalism Toolkit

Cyber-vandalism presents a serious challenge to online-based communication tools. This document provides guidance and security practices to …
Improving the Accessibility of Social Media in Government

Government agencies are increasingly using social media to engage with citizens, share information and deliver services more quickly and …
Federal Social Media Accessibility Toolkit Hackpad

The following contains the shared document for the development of the Social Media Policy Toolkit, a shared service of the Federal Social …

Embedding Equity in Civic Design to Transform Customer Experience

This case study describes how two civic designers at different agencies embed equity in civic design to transform federal customer …
Tips for Starting Your Customer Experience Journey

Low-cost, low-lift actions that any federal employee can take to improve customer experience.
Hurricane Idalia guidance for U.S. government websites and social media

Addressing web and digital communications related to Hurricane Idalia
Hawaii wildfires guidance for U.S. government websites and social media

Addressing web and digital communications related to Hawaii wildfires
18F De-risking Guides

The Federal Field Guide to De-risk Government Technology offers guidance to federal agencies on how to structure software development teams, …
18F Guide to Product Management

Best practices on doing product management well
Mobile Development Strategies

The following is a list of the most common mobile development strategies.
A Guide to Creating Mobile-Friendly Websites

Based on a recent six-month study, this guide outlines the top five practices needed to improve the mobile-friendliness of federal websites: …
Open Data Policy (M-13-13)

This Memorandum establishes a framework to help institutionalize the principles of effective information management at each stage of the …

An introduction to GitHub

Steps for managing website content in GitHub.

Introduction to design systems

If your organization needs to ensure compliance with a design standard or align to a brand, a design system can help you achieve those goals …
Deceptive Design: How to Identify and Combat Consequence Design

Consequence design is part of everyday life. Deceptive techniques like “dark patterns” and “hostile design” trick people into taking …
An Introduction to USWDS 3.0

A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American …
USWDS Maturity Model

How to adopt the design system incrementally and design and build better digital experiences.
21st Century Integrated Digital Experience Act

21st Century IDEA aims to improve the digital experience for government customers.
Best Practices for Writing for the Accessible Web

Tips for making online information accessible for those with auditory and visual needs.
The website standards

As defined in 21st Century IDEA, the Design System incorporates federal standards to improve federal websites and digital services.
How to track performance

A step-by-step guide to picking metrics and tools for tracking performance on your siteundefined

Usability Testing with Steve Krug

Get started making usability fixes to your website or product.
Department of Homeland Security: Usability Testing Kit

A resource with four approaches to help federal employees perform usability testing.
18F Methods

A collection of tools that describe how teams can put human-centered design into practice.
Usability Starter Kit

Here are some tools and templates to help you create better user experiences.
Fueleconomy.gov – Extended Case Study

Like any valid business decision, User Experience work should produce results and demonstrable impact. To see a list of screenshots from …
Government Usability Case Studies

This list of government usability case studies shows how government sites, mobile apps and other products become more effective, more …

Lessons from the 2021 Federal Plain Language Report Card

This event recap highlights best practices, a short case study video, and examples of federal web content that received both high and low …
Deceptive Design: How to Identify and Combat Consequence Design

Consequence design is part of everyday life. Deceptive techniques like “dark patterns” and “hostile design” trick people into taking …
Department of Homeland Security: Usability Testing Kit

A resource with four approaches to help federal employees perform usability testing.
An Introduction to USWDS 3.0

A design system for the federal government that makes it easier to build accessible, mobile-friendly government websites for the American …
18F Accessibility Guide

A resource for developing accessible products.
Accessibility for Teams

A guide to making products more accessible for everyone.
Required web content and links

Various policies require you to have certain content—or provide links to content—from specific places on your website.
How to track performance

A step-by-step guide to picking metrics and tools for tracking performance on your siteundefined
18F Methods

A collection of tools that describe how teams can put human-centered design into practice.
Usability Starter Kit

Here are some tools and templates to help you create better user experiences.

18F Research Guidelines

Covers the basic principles research: informing and getting consent, and managing personally identifiable information (PII)
Addressing Barriers to User-Centered Design

An overview of the most common barriers and how federal agencies might address them.
Managing Research Projects Remotely

Best practices for distributed teams.
The basics of human-centered design in government

How the Lab at OPM drives innovation through design education
Stakeholder and User Interview Checklist

Key interview moments and how to navigate them.
Usability Testing with Steve Krug

Get started making usability fixes to your website or product.
Department of Homeland Security: Usability Testing Kit

A resource with four approaches to help federal employees perform usability testing.
Guide to the Paperwork Reduction Act

A plain language guide which answers the most common questions to the PRA
Tips for Starting Your Customer Experience Journey

Low-cost, low-lift actions that any federal employee can take to improve customer experience.
Tips for capturing the best data from user interviews

How to ensure the most useful information makes its way back to your team for further analysis

How to Present Like a Pro

Wendy Wagner-Smith of the Small Business Administration (SBA) shares her tips and tricks for presenting virtually.
Guidelines for Digital.gov event presenters

A checklist of requirements for people who are presenting at a Digital.gov event.

Introduction to translation technology

What is translation technology? This introductory resource will help you understand how and when to use translation technology to provide …
An introduction to plain language

Understand how and why to use plain language on government websites and other digital services
Lessons from the 2021 Federal Plain Language Report Card

This event recap highlights best practices, a short case study video, and examples of federal web content that received both high and low …
PlainLanguage.gov

A resource to help federal employees write in plain language and comply with the Plain Writing Act of 2010.
Style Guides by Government Agencies

This page is a collection of style guides created by government agencies.
Plain Language Web Writing Tips

Help your readers complete their tasks with these Plain Language writing tips.

Guidance for U.S. government websites and social media for:

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