The Challenge
The Multnomah County Sheriff’s Office (MCSO) provides corrections, law enforcement, and civil services to the county with the largest population in the state of Oregon. To fulfill its mission of supporting community members through exemplary public safety service, MCSO sought to enhance its public-facing website and intranet site to better serve both external and internal communication needs. The core objectives of this endeavor were to identify functional requirements, develop technical specifications, and define hosting infrastructure. Additionally, the project aimed to create wireframe mockups and establish a roadmap for the redevelopment. Challenges included outdated design, disparate content management methods, and a lack of mobile responsiveness across both sites. The project required a cohesive approach to unify the user experience, improve findability of information, and ensure compliance with accessibility standards.
Our Approach
GovWebworks (GWW) initiated the project with discovery sessions to understand MCSO’s requirements and current challenges. We conducted interviews, developed wireframe concepts, and outlined technical requirements. Throughout the process, we collaborated closely with MCSO stakeholders to refine concepts and define detailed requirements. Our approach focused on agile software development, allowing for iterative refinement and continuous feedback. We emphasized usability, mobile responsiveness, and adherence to best practices in design and development. By leveraging Drupal as a single instance for both the external website and intranet, we aimed to streamline management and ensure consistency in content delivery.
The Result
The implementation phase commenced in January 2023, following a thorough discovery and planning phase. GWW’s approach facilitated ease of use for information findability, mobile responsiveness, improved SEO, and enhanced translations and accessibility. Through wireframing, design ideation, and graphic design iterations, we ensured a modern and engaging user interface aligned with MCSO’s branding. Development and quality assurance testing were conducted iteratively, with a focus on functionality, performance, and security. Content migration was meticulously managed, with training provided to MCSO contributors for ongoing maintenance. The release process was staged and methodically executed, ensuring a seamless transition to the new system. The project delivered a revitalized public-facing website and intranet site, providing a warm and approachable user experience while meeting MCSO’s business objectives and technical requirements. Furthermore, the revamped Drupal site makes it easier for MCSO to update information that keeps citizens informed on events and public safety goals.
