A1M Blog

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What to do when stakeholders don't speak the language of design

One little word can derail collaboration between human-centered design (HCD) and stakeholders. Recover momentum with straightforward strategies that bridge the gap between design terminology and what really matters.

Product Strategy in a Changing Government Landscape

In today’s federal environment, traditional product planning is increasingly impractical. Meeting this moment requires an adaptive approach to product strategy, along with storytelling, flexible prioritization, and the ability to realign quickly.

Policy Connector home page with the tagline, “An Easier Way to Navigate Policy Information.” It shows examples of Policy Connector’s topic-based search and AI search summaries.

Adding AI and Machine Learning Features the Boring Way

With only a three-person team, we experiment with and implement AI and machine learning features that improve a mature tool’s usability

Building a communications framework from the bottom up

Content strategy doesn’t need to be a complex top-down framework. Small improvements based on common problems provide opportunities to develop process, get buy-in, and increase understanding.

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User testing vs. reality: Challenges in self-service healthcare technology

Computer kiosks are everywhere. While they can increase efficiency and lower costs, they can cause issues in complex situations such as healthcare entry points. A recent visit to a bloodwork lab illustrates how such systems can pose barriers to care when designed without accessibility in mind.

The Art and (Data) Science of Designing Data Products

Data shapes our decisions daily, but making it clear and useful takes intentional design. Learn how Data Product Designers transform complex data into actionable insights, helping users navigate and leverage information to achieve their goals.

Engaging communities: Reflections on a federal public feedback process

A reflection and call-to-action piece (through the lens of human-centered best practices) about the OMB seeking feedback on developing a public participation and community engagement framework, and how we believe these types of efforts can be improved.

The Rising Importance of Local Organizations in Our Healthcare System

Investments in community-based organizations in rural areas are a critical solution to the healthcare provider shortage — and have surprisingly widespread effects on health-related social needs.

Making websites accessible: insights from Chinese readers

Explore practical methods for making websites more accessible to people with Limited English Proficiency (LEP)

Applying Human-Centered Principles to California Health and Human Services

Over ten years, California has committed to a more person-centered approach to improving residents' health. This includes ensuring health and human services agencies build technology solutions focused on those they serve. Here's how A1M's expertise in human-centered design aligns to their goals.

Sunset Strategies: Transitioning Legacy Features to New Horizons

"Sunsetting" is the phasing out of a product, service, or policy. Like real sunsets, technology sunsets need a gradual, smooth fade-out. Here are five lessons we've learned to make your sunset beautiful.

How to develop more trusting relationships as a government contractor

Here are some ways contractors can build reciprocal trust and meaningful relationships with government partners without using niche vocabularies, fancy slide decks, or double-diamond frameworks.

Content Governance and Digital-First Public Experiences

Content governance is a key part of any digital-first public experience. Learn how to get started.

Lorem Ipsum and content strategy

Lorem Ipsum is the design industry term for a block of nonsensical text used as a placeholder. It emerged from a real need for unfinished text, but it doesn't address the content problems that teams in government need to solve.

Lo-Fi Wireframes: An Overlooked Step in the Design Process

Lo-fi wireframes are often overlooked but are a crucial step in the design process.

Building Medicaid data readiness for California human services providers

California has approved A1M to provide unified policy, design, and digital transformation consulting for community-based organizations participating in the CalAIM Medicaid initiative. Our focus is building capacity for data collection, management, sharing, and use.

The importance of commenting on proposed changes to regulations

A1M recently submitted our first comment response to a Notice of Proposed Rulemaking from CMS related to the Medicaid program and the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP), suggesting improvements for implementation of eligibility and enrollment changes. Commenting on proposed changes.

Reuse our moderately fun anti-phishing training

Any business with an email address or phone number is a target for phishing. There are a lot of small federal contracting businesses trusted to support government operations, including ours, and we...

The human cost when policy implementation lacks human-centered design

As the world appears to be turning a corner with the COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Medicaid beneficiaries may soon lose the coverage they rely on.

The detective work of content strategy

If you want to be an expert content strategist, try thinking of yourself as a detective. Not sure how to do that? This article offers a guide to content sleuthing...

Why nature inspires the way we work

In honor of Earth Day on April 22nd, I thought it would be a good time to reflect on why and how nature has influenced my life and shaped the very principles that guide our work at A1M...

How to work for better government…without working for the government

The heated election season — and the change in administration — is spurring a lot of interest in government tech jobs. I was previously a federal government employee with 18F; I highly recommend...

What you need to know about conducting research with subject matter experts

Crossing over from the private sector into civic tech, we bring our experience and knowledge from consumer research along with us, but in civic tech, SMEs are the people who know what you need to know to build a fantastic government product.

What to do about crafty executive orders

I’ve learned a lot about the story of EO 10450, and it taught me to read Executive Orders not at the level of the policy they’re saying they put forth, but at their actual effects.