Problem
The Army relies on our team to build and maintain critical software for managing user accounts, finances, and supply chains.
However, many of these applications were inherited from other contractors, built by fragmented teams over time, and are now outdated in both their frontend interfaces and backend architecture.
This project is under nda ✦
Due to NDA restrictions, much of this work cannot be shared publicly. All content below has been anonymized and stripped of proprietary information. As a result, this case study may be shorter than others in my portfolio. Please feel free to reach out if you have any questions or concerns about the content.
Goals
- Establish a consistent user experience across all applications by creating a scalable, enterprise-wide design system that works across diverse tech stacks.
- Collaborate with individual application teams to redesign their interfaces, beginning with a legacy UI modernization project.
- Identify and resolve usability issues, serving as the sole advocate for users across the development team.
Part 1: Creating the PPB Design System
To improve usability and consistency across the PPB suite of applications, I led the creation of a scalable, cross-platform design system.
1. Updated Style Guide
I developed a comprehensive style guide based on the U.S. Army Brand Guidelines (v2.4), adapted to the unique needs of our apps. While full implementation varies by tech stack and third-party constraints, the guide provides updated components, usage patterns, and visual standards to ensure alignment across teams.
To inform the system, I audited frequently used components across major applications and consulted leads from each app to understand stack limitations and redesign potential.
2. UX Audits
I conducted detailed UX audits starting with the Training Portal and the User & Role Management (URM) app. These reports included:
- Usability pain points
- Accessibility considerations
- Inconsistencies with the new design system
- A summary of technologies used per app
These audits helped shape redesign priorities and contributed to a system-wide understanding of front-end capabilities.
3. Implementation Support
For each app, I translated audit findings into actionable outcomes—ranging from written reports to Jira tickets, wireframes, and component designs. When development teams were at capacity, I contributed directly as a front-end developer to help implement changes.
U.S. Army Brand Guidelines
Old PPB Design System
