TL;DR
TL;DR
Challenge: The profile page had become cluttered and inconsistent, which limited scalability and frustrated users.
Solution: I redesigned the page with tabbed side navigation, plain language, and reusable components aligned with the IRS design system.
Impact: The redesign reduced clicks for key tasks, improved consistency, and delivered scalable components that were later adopted across IOLA.
Role: I led the end-to-end redesign, aligned stakeholders, and supported engineering delivery—all within a one-month timeline.
OVERVIEW
Role
Lead UX Designer
Team
1 Product Manager
2 UX Researchers
4 Engineers
Timeline
Nov - Dec 2024
Tools
Figma
FigJam
GitLab
IRS DS
Context
The IRS Individual Online Account (IOLA) profile page had grown increasingly cluttered, making it difficult for taxpayers to manage their information efficiently. With several new features on the roadmap, the legacy design could not scale and threatened to overwhelm users.
In my role as Lead UX Designer, I drove the end-to-end redesign, balancing user needs, design system consistency, and backend constraints. I worked closely with a PM, two UX researchers, and four engineers to develop a scalable solution that could evolve alongside the IRS’s growing digital services.
Before
After
CHALLENGE
Challenge
Users faced confusion due to redundant labels, inconsistent layouts, and unclear organization, which often led to errors and frustration. At the same time, the legacy backend imposed limitations on how much we could overhaul interactions, meaning that any redesign had to work within technical constraints.
Additionally, upcoming features would have overwhelmed the single-page design, creating a clear need for a scalable, modular structure that could support future growth without sacrificing usability.
PROCESS
Research & Alignment
I began by conducting a comprehensive page audit, identifying inconsistencies in information architecture and labeling. I reviewed a 2021 usability study that highlighted key usability pain points, such as redundant and unclear labels.
To ensure alignment, I facilitated stakeholder workshops, where we defined four core goals for the redesign:
Simplify the interface
Clarify content
Optimize for new features
Improve usability and consistency
Ideation & Tradeoffs
Next, I ran a comparative analysis of both fintech and consumer account platforms. This research revealed that modular sections and side navigation were effective patterns for scalable user experiences.
Platforms compared
During ideation, I navigated tradeoffs between stakeholders: engineers highlighted backend constraints, limiting scope to front-end changes for maximum impact, while the PM preferred card-based layouts. I advocated for a cleaner, non-card layout using evidence from competitive analysis and mobile usability research. The result was a tabbed side navigation structure that grouped related information intuitively and could accommodate future features.
Design & Validation
I developed wireframes to test the new information architecture across desktop and mobile. High-fidelity prototypes were then built using reusable IRS design system components.
Because time constraints prevented taxpayer testing, I partnered with our UX researchers to run a heuristic analysis with team members unfamiliar with the system to validate interactions. This analysis informed key fixes, including success alerts for saved changes and standardized button labels, which collectively improved the overall clarity and usability of the page.
Collaboration & Handoff
I partnered closely with the IRS design system lead to formalize new reusable components for the profile page. These components were later adopted across other IOLA pages, ensuring consistency and scalability.
I also delivered annotated Figma specs, detailing spacing, variants, and edge cases, and supported engineers with fast QA turnaround and weekly dev syncs. These efforts ensured the redesign was implemented efficiently, despite backend constraints and a tight timeline.
CONCLUSION
Outcome
The redesigned profile page restored consistency by aligning layout, typography, and labels with the IRS design system. The introduction of side navigation and reusable components unlocked scalability, enabling faster development for upcoming features.
Beyond the immediate redesign, the side navigation pattern has been reused on other IOLA pages, demonstrating the broader impact of the project. Engineers reported smoother implementation and appreciated the clarity of documentation and specifications, which streamlined the development process.
Next Steps & Reflections
This project reinforced my ability to drive user-centered change within legacy constraints. I learned how to influence stakeholders using competitive evidence rather than opinion, how to build scalable foundations that endure beyond short timelines, and how to advocate for design system evolution to support future growth.
If I had more time, I would have conducted usability testing with taxpayers to validate IA groupings and measure improvements in clarity and task success.