FDA SCAIL UX Study

Project Overview

The FDA SCAIL project represents a comprehensive $400M+ platform modernization initiative focused on transforming 30+ applications across the imported goods lifecycle. This large-scale effort aimed to consolidate disparate systems while implementing modern technologies and creating cohesive user experiences.

The Challenge: Each application had been developed by different teams at various times using different technology stacks, resulting in inconsistent interfaces and fragmented user experiences that hindered operational efficiency and user satisfaction.

The Vision: Create a unified, human-centered digital ecosystem that would streamline workflows while maintaining regulatory compliance and supporting the diverse needs of FDA stakeholders.

My Role

As part of the centralized UI/UX team, I contributed to developing and implementing a comprehensive design strategy across multiple Agile development teams. My responsibilities included:

Embedded Design Support: Working directly within high-priority development teams to ensure maximum design impact and seamless integration.

Research Coordination: Participating in systematic user research efforts to uncover user needs and validate design decisions.

Design System Implementation: Contributing to the creation and maintenance of scalable design components and documentation.

Cross-team Collaboration: Facilitating communication between design, development, and stakeholder teams to maintain design consistency.

Process and Methods

Research-Driven Approach

• Established standardized research methodologies for all team members to follow.

• Coordinated research efforts to ensure comprehensive coverage of high-priority applications.

• Implemented continuous user feedback loops to inform design decisions.

• Created systematic documentation of user needs and pain points.

Design System Development

• Foundation Phase: Created initial mockups and prototypes using design tools.

• Asset Library Creation: Developed a comprehensive library of reusable design components.

• Code Integration: Built a coded style guide using the same UI kit and codebase as development teams.

• Documentation: Established comprehensive UI/UX standards and conventions for designers and developers.

Governance Framework

• Weekly check-ins with program UI/UX resources.

• Regular UI audits to ensure compliance with design standards.

• Systematic review process for new applications entering modernization.

• Scalable methodology for onboarding new projects.

Key Challenges

Technical Fragmentation

Challenge: 30+ applications built with different technologies, creating inconsistent user experiences.

Solution: Developed a unified design system with coded components that could be implemented across various tech stacks.

Scale Management

Challenge: Supporting multiple Agile teams with limited UI/UX resources (3 to 4 team members).

Solution: Strategic embedding of designers in high-priority teams and creation of self-service design resources.

Consistency Enforcement

Challenge: Maintaining design standards across distributed development teams.

Solution: Implemented governance processes including regular audits, documentation, and review cycles.

Stakeholder Alignment

Challenge: Balancing FDA branding requirements with UX best practices and user needs.

Solution: Created flexible design system that incorporated stakeholder requirements while prioritizing usability.

Outcomes and Impacts

Operational Efficiency

• Streamlined design-to-development workflow through coded style guides.

• Reduced design inconsistencies across the platform.

• Accelerated front-end development through reusable components.

User Experience Improvements

• Created cohesive user journeys across previously fragmented applications.

• Established human-centered design practices throughout the program.

• Improved accessibility and usability compliance with FDA standards.

Organizational Benefits

• Built scalable design processes that accommodate new applications seamlessly.

• Established cross-functional collaboration frameworks.

• Created sustainable governance model for ongoing design consistency.

Technical Achievements

• Developed comprehensive design system with theme files for consistent styling.

• Created documentation that serves both designers and developers.

• Built flexible component library that adapts to unique use cases while maintaining consistency.

Learnings

Strategic Insights

• Centralized governance with distributed execution proved most effective for large-scale design consistency.

• Early user research integration significantly improved design outcomes and stakeholder buy-in.

• Coded design systems bridge the gap between design intent and development implementation more effectively than static documentation.

Process Improvements

• Regular cross-team communication prevents design drift and ensures alignment.

• Flexible design systems that allow for unique patterns while maintaining core consistency are essential for complex platforms.

• Embedding designers within development teams creates better collaboration than traditional handoff models.

Future Applications

• Scalable methodologies developed for this project can be applied to other large-scale modernization efforts.

• The governance model provides a framework for maintaining design quality as teams and applications grow.

• Research-driven design processes ensure user needs remain central to technical modernization efforts.