ESDC
EI Application Modernization
Type
Mobile-first, Web Responsive
Team
Cross-functional team of designers, business analysts, content designers, product, SMEs, and developers
Client
Employment and Social Development Canada
Role
Product Designer – Individual Contributor + Design Lead
Duration
Ongoing (Year 2)
Tools
Figma, Miro, Mural, Azure DevOps
Project Overview
ESDC set out to modernize Canada’s Employment Insurance (EI) application to better support individuals navigating a complex, policy-driven system during vulnerable moments.
My Role
The work focused on improving clarity, reducing cognitive load, and helping users confidently move through long, high-stakes application flows — while operating within strict legislative, policy, and system constraints.
As a Product Designer embedded within the EI modernization program, I was responsible for:
Auditing the existing application to identify usability breakdowns, recurring patterns, and systemic issues
Restructuring fragmented flows into a more intentional, supportive experience
Designing and introducing new patterns to improve orientation, preparation, and review throughout the application
Contributing to and scaling solutions through a shared component library to support consistency across teams
Collaborating closely with content designers, SMEs, and product partners to balance user needs with policy requirements
The Outcome
This work helped establish clearer structure and reusable patterns across the EI application, supporting both user confidence and team efficiency as the program scaled across multiple design pods and benefit types. Auditing the existing application to identify usability breakdowns, recurring patterns, and systemic issues.
NDA Notice
Due to confidentiality, detailed flows, designs, and metrics cannot be shared publicly.
I’m happy to walk through the full case study, design decisions, and learnings in conversation.