The Client
As both a grantmaker and hub for knowledge-sharing, the Center is dedicated to fostering a vibrant and diverse cultural ecology.
Outcome
Custom web-based grantmaking application and judging system
Approach
UX strategy, information architecture, wireframing, prototyping, visual design
Focus
Clarity and usability across multiple roles, workflows, and evaluation scenarios within a single system
The Project
I was brought in by Fostermade to join a redesign of the The Pew Center's existing grantmaking platform from the ground up. The system supports applicants, panelists, evaluators, administrators, and staff, each with distinct goals, permissions, and workflows. My role was to create a unified experience that could handle this complexity without feeling overwhelming, while aligning visually with the organization’s established brand. I partnered closely with development, working as an extension of their team to help define, design, and validate the product before and during implementation.
UX Process
Mapping roles, rules, and realities
Based on extensive discovery, including insights from the Center's audiences, I developed personas across user types to ground decisions in real behaviors and constraints. These insights informed a robust information architecture designed to support varied application types, evaluation models, and permission levels, all within a single coherent system. I mapped multiple end-to-end user flows covering applicants, reviewers, panelists, and administrators to understand where complexity was essential and where clarity could be improved. These flowcharts are the cornerstone of many of my projects, bringing together user flow and system architecture in one deliverable. They get an entire team on board with the project direction and inform next steps, including building wireframes and prototypes.
Design & Prototyping
Designing at scale, without losing usability
The platform required a large and diverse set of screens: applicant dashboards, multi-step applications, evaluator scoring views, live group judging interfaces, administrative tools, messaging systems, timelines, and asset management for creative submissions. I presented wireframes of all screens, allowing us to test each audience's experience before moving to design. Visual design built on the Pew Center’s existing identity, prioritizing clarity, hierarchy, and ease of use over decoration. Tables, search, filters, and data-dense views were carefully designed to support review sessions and decision-making.
Results
A system ready for confident decision-making
The result is a flexible, scalable grantmaking platform that supports multiple review models, user roles, and access levels without sacrificing usability. Internal teams gained clearer workflows and better oversight, while applicants and panelists experienced a more user-friendly, focused process. By grounding every decision in research, flows, and real user needs, the system is positioned to evolve alongside the Pew Center’s programs, providing a durable foundation for future grant cycles.
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