The Department of Human Services had no single place where people could go to find help. We built one.

ALLEGHENY CONNECT | STRATEGY, RESEARCH, CONTENT DESIGN, WRITING 

Redesigning how people find help.

Challenge 

Human services info was impossible to find. What existed was dense and fragmented, leaving people unable to quickly get the help they needed. We aimed to create a simple point of access for the services 400+ agencies and community organizations offered.

Built for the people who use it.

Data-driven design

Topics were created based on the help people seek most. Drop-down menus are dynamic and change based on user behavior.

Off-ramps for emergencies

We don't always have time to search in our most vulnerable moments, so every page offers clear ways to get help immediately.

A citizen engagement platform

Includes a direct channel for residents to report issues, give feedback, or ask questions.


Result 

After content audits, focus groups, surveys, and design workshops with real users, we built a responsive website centered around what people actually need. When the COVID-19 pandemic hit, it became an essential resource.