Enhancing UX For VA Evidence Request Alerts

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Introduction

Hey guys! In this article, we're diving deep into the improvements made to the UX design for critical evidence request alerts within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA). The primary goal is to enhance the user experience for veterans by eliminating stacking issues, aligning with the VA Design System (VADS) components, and ensuring consistency across the entire evidence request flow. This involves a thorough evaluation of card-based patterns, proper component usage, and a clear visual hierarchy. Let's get started!

Background: The Need for Improvement

Currently, the evidence request alerts suffer from several issues that negatively impact the user experience. These include inappropriate stacking of alerts, inconsistent component usage, and a general failure to adhere to VADS patterns. For veterans, this translates to a confusing and overwhelming experience when trying to understand what evidence is required and when it's due. Imagine being bombarded with a jumbled mess of alerts – not exactly the stress-free interaction we aim for! The updates we're discussing aim to provide a clear, scannable, and intuitive way for veterans to manage their evidence requests, making the process smoother and less daunting.

The Current Challenges

The existing system presents a few key challenges:

  • Alert Stacking: Alerts often stack on top of each other, making it difficult for veterans to distinguish individual requests and their respective deadlines.
  • Inconsistent Components: The use of inconsistent components across different alerts creates a disjointed experience, making it harder for users to quickly understand and act on the information presented.
  • Lack of VADS Alignment: Failure to adhere to VADS patterns results in a design that feels unfamiliar and unprofessional, undermining trust and confidence in the system.

The Goal: A Seamless Experience

To address these challenges, the improvements focus on creating a seamless and intuitive experience for veterans. This involves:

  • Clear Visual Hierarchy: Establishing a clear visual hierarchy to guide users through the information and highlight the most important details.
  • Consistent Component Usage: Ensuring that all alerts and components align with VADS patterns, creating a cohesive and familiar experience.
  • Eliminating Stacking Issues: Implementing a card-based solution to eliminate alert stacking and provide a clear, organized view of evidence requests.

Scope: What's Included in the Update

The scope of these UX design updates is well-defined, focusing on specific improvements outlined in Figma and the parent ticket. Additionally, the design process will address any issues discovered along the way. This includes creating designs for three interconnected alert types within the evidence request flow:

  1. Files Needed Alert: This alert informs veterans about the files they need to submit as evidence. The primary focus is on implementing a card-based solution to eliminate stacking issues.
  2. Evidence Request Count Alert: This slim alert displays the total number of evidence requests above the cards, providing a quick overview of the workload.
  3. Files Optional Alert: This alert informs veterans about optional files they can submit. The update ensures that this alert uses proper VADS components.

Tasks: The Steps to Improvement

To achieve these UX design improvements, several key tasks need to be completed. Let's break them down:

  • Research: Kick things off by reviewing previous work on evidence request alerts, including related pull requests and Figma designs. Also, take a look at the BMT 2 Document Status Initiative work on the Files tab.
  • Card-Based Solution: Design a card-based solution for the "Files Needed" alert to get rid of those stacking issues. Make it clean, make it clear!
  • Slim Alert Design: Create a slim alert to display the evidence request count above the cards. Think of it as a helpful little summary.
  • VADS Component Update: Update the "Files Optional" alert to use the correct VADS components. Consistency is key, folks.
  • Critical Action Evaluation: Evaluate whether the Critical Action component is appropriate for the Claims List Item alert. Does it fit? Does it work?
  • Desk Research: Conduct desk research to explore patterns for handling multiple time-sensitive actions. Let's see what the best practices are.
  • Visual Consistency: Ensure visual consistency when mixing alerts and components. Everything should look like it belongs together.
  • Documentation: Document all design decisions and component choices in Figma. Keep a clear record of why we did what we did.
  • Enablement Team Review: Review the designs with the Enablement team to get their feedback and insights.

Acceptance Criteria: How We Measure Success

To ensure that the UX design improvements are successful, we've established a clear set of acceptance criteria:

  • Figma Designs Completed: All three alert types must have completed designs in Figma.
  • Stacking Solution: The card-based stacking solution must effectively eliminate alert stacking issues.
  • VADS Compliance: All designs must use appropriate VADS components.
  • Visual Consistency: Visual consistency must be maintained across the Status and Files tabs.
  • Critical Action Evaluation: The evaluation of the Critical Action component must be documented.
  • VADS Alignment: Design decisions must align with VADS guidance.
  • Engineering Ready: Designs must be ready for engineering handoff.

Key Design Considerations

Card-Based Solution for "Files Needed" Alert

The card-based solution is a central piece of this project. By organizing each evidence request into a separate card, we eliminate the stacking issues that plague the current system. Each card can clearly display the necessary information, such as the type of file needed, the deadline for submission, and any relevant instructions. This approach not only improves scannability but also allows for better organization and prioritization of tasks. The cards should be designed with a clear visual hierarchy, using typography, color, and spacing to guide the user's eye and highlight the most important information.

Slim Alert for Evidence Request Count

To provide veterans with a quick overview of their evidence requests, a slim alert will be displayed above the cards. This alert will show the total number of outstanding requests, giving users an immediate sense of their workload. The design of this alert should be simple and unobtrusive, using clear and concise language. It should also be visually distinct from the cards themselves, ensuring that it doesn't compete for attention.

VADS Component Alignment for "Files Optional" Alert

Ensuring that the "Files Optional" alert uses proper VADS components is crucial for maintaining consistency and familiarity across the VA system. This means using the appropriate typography, color palette, and UI elements as defined by the VADS. By adhering to these standards, we create a cohesive and professional experience that builds trust and confidence among veterans.

Evaluating the Critical Action Component

The Critical Action component is designed to highlight urgent or time-sensitive actions that require immediate attention. While this component may be appropriate for certain alerts, it's important to carefully evaluate its suitability for the Claims List Item alert. We need to consider whether the urgency implied by the component aligns with the actual importance of the action. If not, it may be better to use a less prominent component to avoid overwhelming or misleading users.

Ensuring Visual Consistency

Maintaining visual consistency across all alerts and components is essential for creating a cohesive and intuitive user experience. This means using the same typography, color palette, and UI elements throughout the system. It also means paying attention to spacing, alignment, and other visual details to ensure that everything looks like it belongs together. By creating a visually consistent design, we make it easier for veterans to navigate the system and understand the information presented.

Notes: Important Considerations

  • Content Designer Collaboration: Coordinate closely with the Content Designer working on the sibling ticket. Consistent messaging is key for a unified user experience.
  • Performance Awareness: Consider the performance implications of design choices. A beautiful design that loads slowly is not a good design.
  • Holistic View: Remember, all three alerts are part of the same Veteran flow. Consistency isn't just nice to have; it's crucial.
  • VADS Questions: Document any questions or concerns about VADS components for the Design System Council review. Let's make sure we're all on the same page.

Conclusion

By focusing on these UX design improvements, we can significantly enhance the experience for veterans interacting with the VA system. Eliminating stacking issues, aligning with VADS components, and ensuring visual consistency are all crucial steps in creating a user-friendly and efficient platform. Keep an eye out for these changes, guys – they're designed to make a real difference!