Revolutionizing GWAC Management

Project Overview

GWAC NorthStar® is a patented B2B SaaS platform I designed for Deep Water Point & Associates, aimed at revolutionizing government contract management. Pre-launch, GWAC NorthStar® secured contracts with eight companies, including Deloitte.

Roles

Founding Product Designer — UX/UI Design, Interaction Design, Systems Design, UX Research

Timeline

Jan 2023 - Dec 2023 — Minimum Viable Product & Design System Developed

Non-Linear Design Processes

My personal challenge was adapting to the non-linear nature of the design process, especially when our offshore development team was let go mid-project. This disruption required me to adjust my approach while searching for a new team and then collaborating with a new team, ensuring that our vision remained intact despite the changes in dynamics and workflow.

The Goal

Deep Water Point & Associates brought me on to design a product to help their executive clients manage government contracts more seamlessly. The goal was to simplify task order management so clients could make faster, smarter decisions in a tricky contracting world. Honestly, I didn’t know much about government contracts or the processes at first, so I leaned heavily on research to guide me.

Northstars Beginning The Project

Clarity

Design a platform that simplifies government contract management, making complex data easy to understand and act on.

Efficiency

Streamline workflows to reduce time spent on task order evaluations, increasing team efficiency and output.

Collaboration

Facilitate smooth communication and collaboration among teams and client executives.

Understanding the GWAC Landscape

Too Many Documents, Yet They're Necessary

Clients would have to sift through many documents per each GWAC, and we found that many of them wanted to have access to view the documents when narrowing on their decisions, rather than initial thoughts of limiting the need.

Information Overload Shouldn't Be the Norm

Client executives face common struggle with information overload, which hindered quick decision-making. Tailoring insights were desired and future implementations of AI.

Multiple User Roles Uncovered

Through early rounds of testing we were able to uncover that there needed to be varying user roles with access and ability to perform different tasks, increasing the number of user interfaces.

Transforming Complexity into Clarity, Starting With Myself

The focus throughout the process was focused on simplicity, yet an informative approach. The design process focused on countless rounds of wireframing and testing to explore user interactions, followed by mapping out user flows to ensure efficient navigation.

Wireframing

Wireframing allowed me to visualize the user interface and layout of GWAC NorthStar™ for stakeholders and users to further explore the ideal experience without design choices interfering.

User Flow Development

The process felt overwhelming at first, but narrowing user flows and refining them with clients helped us focus on the key actions for success.

Defining the Subsidiary Brand

Establishing a unique subsidiary brand for GWAC NorthStar™ helped it in the market, creating a visual identity and messaging that aligned with Deep Water Point & Associates' goals.

So.. What Does GWAC NorthStar™ Do?

GWAC NorthStar™ streamlines managing Governmentwide Acquisition Contracts (GWACs) by automating task order collection and evaluation. It gathers announcements from various sources, filters and scores them based on user criteria, delivering the results through a secure web portal. This approach helps teams quickly identify high-priority contracts, saving time and increasing their chances of success.

We Exceeded Expectations

8+

companies signed pre-launch

3+

intellectual properties developed

GWAC NorthStar™ transforms government contract management by automating task order collection and evaluation. With AI-driven personalization for client executives, the platform prioritizes high-value opportunities and streamlines decision-making. Pre-launch, GWAC NorthStar™ secured contracts with eight companies, including Deloitte, showcasing its impact in the industry.

My Biggest Learning

The design process is not always linear. Research may lack a clear endpoint, and more importantly timelines and budgets can influence direction. Real-world challenges impact team dynamics, making flexibility and communication essential for adapting and finding effective solutions.

Some questions, some answers

Was this a client project or a student project? And is it live?

This was a real client project for Deep Water Point & Associates. While some features are live and in use, much of the product remains under NDA. The platform attracted significant interest, with eight firms, including Deloitte, signing on before its official release.

What was your role through each process of this project?

As the sole product designer, I managed everything from user research to wireframing, prototyping, and the final UI/UX design. My responsibilities included developing the design system, crafting all interfaces, and collaborating with offshore development teams to ensure successful implementation.

What was the biggest challenge you faced through this project?

Learning the intricacies of government contracting was a major challenge, as was coordinating with an offshore team across different time zones. Effective communication and flexibility were essential to translating design into code seamlessly.

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GWAC Northstar