Project Two: CommonHelp Landing Page Enhancements

Project 2:

CommonHelp Landing Page Enhancements

Overview

As this initiative's Project and Creative lead, I played a pivotal role in orchestrating the redesign efforts alongside Public Affairs and building upon the successful deployment of Phase 1, which introduced an enhanced Landing Page. Phase 2 aimed to empower Public Affairs with the capability to program and implement immediate changes and enhancements exclusively to the CommonHelp (CH) Landing Page.

Phase 2 expanded the scope to grant Public Affairs full control over all functionality and visual enhancements of the CH Landing Page. This included enhancing links and verbiage, updating assets such as logos, managing content formatting, implementing changes to Cascading Style Sheets (CSS), incorporating new related resources, and integrating custom JavaScript functionalities.

Our primary objective was to equip Public Affairs with a direct and immediate capability to present citizens of the Commonwealth with a Landing Page boasting industry-leading functionality, seamless access to information, and an aesthetically pleasing interface. By enabling swift and efficient management of the CH Landing Page, we aimed to enhance user experience and engagement.

To achieve our objectives, a new application, termed CommonHelp Update Page Application (CHUPA), was developed by ITS Web developers. Utilizing java JSF and HTML, this application was stored on existing databases and provided non-public facing (internal) admin functionality to manage the CH Landing Page. Key deliverables included database tables for storage, a new host/domain name, and LDAP authentication for PA login credentials. Security considerations were paramount, ensuring the integrity of the CHUPA application through completion of a Security Questionnaire, implementation of access control measures, necessary SAMS modifications, and creation of a new Public Affairs role to govern access. Overall, Phase 2 of the CommonHelp Landing Page Enhancements project represented a significant step forward in providing citizens with a seamless and intuitive user experience.

Taking CommonHelp one step closer

In the quest to propel CommonHelp into the modern age, our team embarked on a mission to enhance the user journey from the landing page, despite the broader need for overhaul across the entire application. Recognizing the importance of a seamless user experience, we were determined to make strides toward improving navigation and accessibility, even within the limitations of existing resources.

While the vision for a flawless user journey encompassed both frontend and backend enhancements, the reality of budget constraints and sponsorship limitations posed significant challenges. Despite these obstacles, we remained steadfast in our commitment to delivering tangible improvements where possible.

With a keen focus on maximizing the impact within our means, we directed our efforts toward refining the landing page experience. Leveraging available resources and ingenuity, we implemented targeted enhancements to streamline navigation, optimize content presentation, and enhance overall usability.

Although the journey toward modernization was far from complete, our incremental progress represented a meaningful step forward in our ongoing efforts to prioritize user-centric design and elevate the CommonHelp experience. While the road ahead may be paved with challenges, our dedication to continuous improvement remains unwavering as we strive to unlock the full potential of CommonHelp for the benefit of all users.