Introducing the Ad Hoc Website Modernization Field Guide

State governments across the country are under pressure to deliver digital services that are faster, simpler, and easier to use. But many of the websites powering those services were built before mobile usage was dominant, before accessibility was mandated, and before most residents expected to interact with government services online the same way they do with banks or retailers.

We’ve seen the challenges firsthand. Our team has encountered outdated content management systems, sites organized around internal hierarchies rather than public needs, and systems that are difficult to maintain without specialized technical knowledge. Fixing these problems requires more than just a new coat of paint. It requires a thoughtful approach grounded in human-centered design, agile delivery, and modern technical architecture.

That’s why we created our Website Modernization Field Guide. It’s a guide for state and local government entities looking to upgrade their digital presence in a sustainable, user-focused way. It shares what we’ve learned from successful projects, the pitfalls to avoid, and the principles that guide our work.

We hope this field guide helps you make the case for modernization in your agency, gives your team a place to start, and ultimately leads to better outcomes for the people you serve. Please let us know what resonates and, just as importantly, what’s missing! We’re always learning.