Creating a new state agency site

The first challenge was coordination.

DCYF is a consolidation of approximately 175 individual programs and services previously spread across four separate state departments — Education, Health, Human Services, and Public Safety — brought together under one new organization. This meant bringing together numerous programs, content, editors, audiences, and goals that had never lived under one roof before.

The second challenge was around design and branding.

While part of the overall branding for the state of Minnesota, this was a department starting from scratch. DCYF had no existing website or other marketing materials to use as the basis for their new site and online brand.

The third challenge was timing.

As details came together in late 2023 around mission, staffing, leadership, and content, it was clear a new website would be needed as the public face for the department — and it had to come together quickly. The new department was scheduled for a transitional public launch on July 1, 2024, with content continuing to transfer from the four legacy departments through July 2025.

This meant the initial website needed to be planned, designed, built, and launched in less than six months.

To begin the project, we worked with the client to identify target audiences and organize the site content and navigation around the needs of core users — in service of the State's stated vision of a "clear front door for families."

For design and user experience, we focused on a user-friendly, human-centered design that put kids and families front and center. 

To help address the short timeframe, we worked with the client on a well-defined work plan, a shortened period for revisions and feedback, and (most importantly) a plan for what can be accomplished by launch, and what needs to be addressed post-launch in “phase two.”