[Super Epic] VA.gov Homepage redesign

[mmiddaugh]

Background

The current VA.gov website was launched in 2018 but hadn't been the subject of much user research until Baseline Wayfinding Research was conducted in June 2021. The redesign incorporates findings from that research and will be informed in foundational top task research and usability studies.

The primary goals of the redesign are

• to make it easy for Veterans and other VA beneficiaries to complete tasks
• to improve engagement
• respond to the expanding benefit and program landscape and stakeholder requests

Artifacts

• Product outline
• Home page redesign iteration brief

Plan

• [x] [Define] Kickoff-Intent
• [x] [Define] Design intent
  • Epic #39038
• [x] [Discover] Research
  • [Research epic] Veteran Top Task #40857 (Moderated and unmoderated)
  • [Research epic] Usability of redesigned home page #41578
• [x] [Discover] Analytics Request
  • Search DOMO dashboard #41512
  • Content DOMO dashboard #41503
• [x] [Build] Contact Center Review - #50075
• [x] [Build] Privacy/Security Review #646
• [ ] [Build] Pre-Staging Review activities
• [x] Accessibility checklist in Staging - #50360
• [x] Compile QA test cases
• [x] Release plan
• [] Product Guide
• [x] Request QA test plan - #50147
• [x] [Build] Staging Review - #49802 - scheduled for 12/15
• [ ] Resolve Staging Review findings - #(tickets)
• [ ] Launch - Date (and/or ticket)
• [ ] [Validate] Post-launch checkin - #(ticket)
• [ ] Complete accessibility checklist in Prod - #(ticket if necessary)
• [ ] [Validate] Launch Full A11y Review - #(ticket)

[mmiddaugh]

Remaining tasks (with target launch week of November 7th Veterans Day)

(as of 8/23/2022)

• Stakeholder discussions, Web Governance Board, and Digital Modernization Council
• Adjustments to ensure critical analytic baselines can be measured with current design
• Usability synthesis report (Cindy)
• Usability to Ryan T on ~8/29
• Findings presented across teams by 9/8 (Cindy)
• Discovery: Existing Homepage content model and how to leverage for new design #10302
• Iteration on design (Ryan) - complete by 9/12 (regular check-ins with Ryan, PW, Cindy) - [Design>Eng handoff]
• Midpoint review (async Collab cycle)
• Punchlist for links
• Engineering for iterations (PW) during Sprint 67 (ends 9/23) - [Eng delivery]
• Usability research (Cindy) - conduct week of 9/26, wrap up sessions by 9/30, synth by October 7
• Tweaks to design - date TBD [Design>Eng handoff]
• Tweaks to engineering (based on above) - by Oct 24/31 [Eng delivery]
• Staging review (check on length - in staging week of Oct 24/31)
• Release to prod (full cutover, same url) - 11/7-11/10 launch window [Eng delivery]
  • Fri 11/11 Veterans Day = holiday

Note: prod release may/will likely be the hard-coded prototype, with Drupal/data hooked in as a fast follow.

[cindymerrill]

@mmiddaugh I can't do those dates for usability research. We should talk.

[mmiddaugh]

Punchlist for engineering iteration #10648

[jilladams]

Definitive schedule recorded in body of https://github.com/department-of-veterans-affairs/va.gov-cms/issues/8340 now, for ongoing updates.

[mmiddaugh]

Drupalize new Homepage components #10626