National Eye Institute (NEI)

Project Info

Client:	National Eye Institute (NEI)
Project:	Website redesign: phased overhaul of NEI’s primary digital presence
Role:	Lead User Interface (UI) Designer: directed visual refresh, full redesign, and development of brand guidelines in collaboration with developers and UX partners
Skills:	Visual design, Web design, UI design, Accessibility, Cross-team collaboration
Software:	Illustrator, Photoshop, Figma
Designed Materials:	Website redesign | Brand Guidelines | UI components | Page templates
Website:	nei.nih.gov/
Awards:	NAGC’s Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Award for website redesign

NEI needed a redesigned website that would serve a bilingual audience (English and Spanish) and meet the needs of users across a wide spectrum of vision abilities. The goal was to create a modern, highly accessible, and user-friendly platform that complied with NIH requirements while reflecting NEI’s leadership in eye health research and education.

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• Phased redesign: Started with a quick refresh (“make-up and mascara”) to modernize the site while planning for a full overhaul.
• Prioritized accessibility and bilingual support: Designed for users with low vision and other impairments, and ensured the site was usable in both English and Spanish.
• Explored design options: Developed multiple design directions informed by NIH guidelines and competitive scans.
• User tested with diverse audiences: Conducted rounds of testing with individuals including those with low vision, iterating based on feedback.
• Collaborated with developers: Worked closely to implement accessibility features and ensure designs were adaptable.

• Award-winning redesign: Honored with NAGC’s Blue Pencil & Gold Screen Award.
• Bilingual access: Delivered a website that supports both English and Spanish speakers.
• Accessibility beyond compliance: Created an experience designed for users with low vision and other impairments, exceeding Section 508 standards (learn more about NEI accessibility)
• Improved usability: Simplified navigation and created a clean, modern interface.
• Cohesive identity: Established brand guidelines to ensure long-term consistency across NEI’s digital and print materials.

This project highlighted my ability to balance phased improvements with a full-scale redesign strategy. It reinforced the importance of inclusive design, particularly in building bilingual and vision-accessible websites. It also showed the value of user testing with diverse audiences and strengthened my expertise in developing scalable design systems and brand guidelines that ensure long-term consistency.