TN Army National Guard Education Services

Web Design, Information Architecture, User Experience

Designed and maintained the website for the Tennessee Army National Guard Education Services program. The site informs soldiers and recruits about their earned education benefits and available services. The design was so successful that the National Guard Bureau adopted it for their web design for use by all 50 states and territories.

The Challenge:
The Tennessee Army National Guard Education Services office needed a way to reach soldiers and recruits across the state with information about their education benefits and available services. Many service members were not local to the office and had no way to access this critical information. The challenge was creating a clear, accessible website that could effectively communicate complex federal education benefits to a diverse audience of soldiers and recruits.

The Solution:
I designed a user-friendly website with clear information architecture that makes it easy for soldiers and recruits to understand their education benefits and access the services available to them. The design prioritized accessibility, clarity, and ease of navigation.

Key Features:
• Clear Information Architecture — Organized complex education benefit information in a logical, easy-to-navigate structure
• Soldier-Focused Design — Designed specifically for the needs and context of military service members
• Benefit Explanations — Clear, accessible explanations of each education benefit and how to use them
• Services Overview — Information about the office's services and how to access them
• Resource Library — Centralized location for forms, documents, and additional resources
• Mobile-Responsive Design — Accessible on desktop, tablet, and mobile devices for soldiers on the go
• Accessibility Standards — Designed with accessibility in mind to serve all service members
• Professional Aesthetic — Design that reflects the professionalism and credibility of the organization

Results:
The website reached approximately 10,000 Tennessee Army and Air National Guard personnel in its first year of operation. The design was so effective that the National Guard Bureau adopted the website design for their website to reach all 50 states and territories, expanding the impact far beyond Tennessee.

Impact:
• Reached 10,000+ TN service members in first year

• Adopted by National Guard Bureau for outreach for all 50 states and territories

• Expanded reach to hundreds of thousands of service members nationwide

• Improved access to education benefits information for military personnel across the country

What I Learned:
This project taught me the importance of designing for a specific audience and understanding their needs. I learned how to communicate complex information clearly and accessibly. I also learned that good design has impact — when you solve a problem well, it can scale beyond your original scope.

Tools Used:
Web design and development, Information Architecture best practices

Visit: https://www.tn.gov/military/programs-benefits/education-incentives.html