Government website redesigns are rarely simple. They need to serve the public clearly and equitably, support internal teams, meet accessibility requirements, and integrate with existing systems. Over time, even well-structured sites can become difficult to navigate, inconsistent across departments, and hard to maintain.

When this happens, the result is fragmented information, frustrated users, and staff who struggle to keep content accurate and up to date. A redesign is an opportunity to address these issues at their root, not just update the visual design.

Understanding the Challenge

Most government organizations come to us with a combination of challenges:

• Navigation that makes it difficult for the public to find key information and services
• Content spread across departments with inconsistent structure and tone
• Accessibility gaps that create risk and limit usability
• Legacy systems that do not integrate cleanly, leading to duplication and outdated content
• A platform that is difficult for staff to manage and maintain over time

These challenges are often interconnected. Addressing one without the others tends to recreate the same issues. A successful redesign requires a coordinated approach across user experience, design, and engineering.

Our Approach

We approach government website redesigns as a structured, collaborative process focused on clarity, accessibility, and long-term sustainability.

Discovery and Research

We begin by understanding your organization, your audiences, and how your current site is performing. This may include stakeholder interviews, analytics review, and user research such as surveys or usability testing.

Information Architecture

We organize content around how people look for information and services, not how departments are structured. This improves findability and helps reduce confusion.

User Experience and Interface Design

We design clear, accessible interfaces and flexible design systems that support a wide range of content types. This work aligns with our broader approach to User Experience and Interface Design.

Development and Integration

We build platforms that integrate with existing systems, including service directories, forms, databases, and third-party tools. These integrations help ensure that information remains accurate and consistent.

Accessibility and Quality Assurance

Accessibility is built into the process from the beginning. We design and test against WCAG standards to ensure the site is usable for all members of the public.

What This Looks Like in Practice

• Simplifying navigation to make services and information easier to find
• Structuring content for clarity, consistency, and accessibility
• Designing systems that support distributed content ownership across departments
• Integrating with internal systems to reduce duplication and improve accuracy
• Establishing patterns and standards that support long-term maintenance

Platforms and Systems

We work in both Drupal and WordPress, selecting the platform based on the needs of the organization.

• Drupal is often a strong fit for complex, multi-department environments with structured content
• WordPress can be effective for teams that need flexibility with a streamlined editorial experience

We also support robust search implementations, including platforms like Algolia, to improve access to information across large sites.

Designed for Distributed Ownership

Government websites are typically managed across departments, with many contributors responsible for maintaining content.

We design systems that support this reality. That includes clear content models, reusable components, and governance approaches that help maintain consistency over time while allowing teams to work efficiently.

Why Government Organizations Choose Black Antelope

• Experience working with public sector organizations and complex stakeholder environments
• Deep expertise in accessibility and WCAG compliance
• Focus on clarity, usability, and public access to information
• Strong balance of design, engineering, and systems thinking
• Emphasis on long-term sustainability and maintainability

Outcomes

A successful government website redesign results in:

• Improved access to information and services
• Clearer navigation and reduced user frustration
• More consistent and accessible content
• Reduced duplication and better integration across systems
• A platform that is easier for staff to manage and maintain