1

Guideline History

Soft Launch Alert: The Digital Guidelines are a work in progress and subject to updates. Your feedback is highly valued and will help us improve! Digital Guidelines Feedback (Google Form)

Versions

04/01/2025: Version 1.8

Description

Notable Updates

None; inaugural publication.

Participants

If you're interested in being a participant, check out Join the Working Group.

  • Project Lead: Abi O'Neal, IT Accessibility Program Manager (DPA)
  • Sponsor and Key Contributor: Nicole Brinn, Brand Compliance Manager & IDS Design Services Lead (DPA)
  • Active Contributors: Chelsea Hansen, Remediation Support Specialist (DPA); Robert Mohl, Lead Web Developer (DOR); Skyler Leonard, Web Content & Communications Specialist (DPA); Sarah Tuneberg, Director of Colorado Design Service (CDS); Greg Knaddison (CDS).
  • Reviewers: Beckie Bean, Accessibility Consultant (OIT); Mina Farzad (CDS);

02/26/2025: Version 1.7

Description

Initial creation of Digital Guidelines content and formalization of roadmap.

Notable Updates

None; inaugural publication.

Participants

If you're interested in being a participant, check out Join the Working Group.

  • Project Lead: Abi O'Neal, IT Accessibility Program Manager (DPA)
  • Sponsor and Key Contributor: Nicole Brinn, Brand Compliance Manager & IDS Design Services Lead (DPA)
  • Active Contributors: Robert Mohl, Lead Web Developer (DOR); Skyler Leonard, Web Content & Communications Specialist (DPA); Sarah Tuneberg, Director of Colorado Design Service (CDS); Greg Knaddison (CDS).
  • Reviewers: Beckie Bean, Accessibility Consultant (OIT); Chelsea Hansen, Remediation Support Specialist (DPA); Mina Farzad (CDS); Brian Curtis (CDS);

Rationale and Standards Alignment

Accessibility is part of our brand and is, necessarily, a critical topic within our guidelines. If you'd like to explore how our guidelines align with or support technical standards, some examples are provided below. This reference is not exhaustive. It is meant to help people dive deeper into the standards-driven rationale behind many of the recommendations made in this resource.

Guideline CategoryTopicEN 301 549WCAG 3.0WCAG 2.1
Content StrategyLanguage9.3.1 Readable3.1 Readable
ComponentsGeneral9.3.2 Predictable2.3.4 Expected behavior3.2 Predictable
Accessibility & ExperienceGeneral4 Functional performance 
Layout GuidelinesAll Page Types9.3.2 Predictable2.7 Layout 
Layout GuidelinesNavigation9.3.2.3 Consistent navigation2.4 Navigable
Design TokensColor System
  • 4.2.2 Usage with limited vision
  • 9.1.4.3 Contrast
  • 11.7 User preferences
2.12 User control1.4 Distinguishable
Design TokensSpacing and Grid9.1.3.4 Orientation1.3 Adaptable
Design TokensMotion & Interaction
  • 10.2.2 Enough time
  • 10.2.3 Seizures and physical reactions
2.3 Seizures and physical reactions

Roadmap

  • Design Tokens: Add Department Accent Palettes, Improve Existing Token Examples
  • Layout Guidelines: Add Consistent Help
  • Components: Add Extended Guidance (General)
  • Components: Add Custom Components
  • Add State Design Guidelines Showcase
  • Add Performance and Technical Considerations
  • Develop USWDS implementations (GitHub), solutions TBD