UX/UI Design
DC DMV Mobile App
challenge
The District of Columbia’s Department of Motor Vehicles (DC DMV) provided residents with an established web platform to access essential services. To extend convenience and accessibility, the DMV introduced a mobile app. As part of the second phase of development, new features needed to be integrated in a way that ensured continuity between the web and mobile platforms, while delivering an experience tailored to mobile users’ needs.
Goal
The objective was to create a mobile-first experience that preserved consistency with DC DMV’s existing UI and component library, while optimizing for smaller screens and touch interactions. The design needed to be intuitive, helping users efficiently complete critical tasks such as renewing licenses, paying tickets, and managing vehicle registrations without unnecessary friction.
My Role
As the UI/UX designer, I focused on adapting web-based services for a mobile environment, ensuring usability, accessibility, and consistency. My work included refining user flows, simplifying navigation patterns, and applying mobile-specific usability standards to deliver an experience that was both intuitive and inclusive. By maintaining alignment with the existing design system, I helped create a unified, user-centered solution across platforms.
Design approach
User Flow
To ensure clarity and efficiency, a detailed user flow was created for each feature of the mobile app. These flows mapped out step-by-step interactions, highlighting key decisions and touchpoints.
For example, the driver license renewal flow guided users through updating personal details, reviewing fees, and optionally updating voter registration information.
By visualizing each process, we were able to identify potential friction points, optimize task sequences, and maintain a consistent experience across all services. Similar user flows were developed for every feature, including tag surrender, vehicle registration renewal, and ticket payments, ensuring a cohesive and predictable mobile experience.
Adapting the DMV’s web services for mobile required rethinking how information was structured and delivered. Each interaction was designed to be focused and sequential, guiding users through tasks with clarity while preventing cognitive overload. The goal was to make data entry accurate and efficient without overwhelming users with unnecessary details.
To maintain continuity, layouts and interactions were built on the established UI and component library, ensuring consistency across platforms. This approach created a familiar experience for existing web users while optimizing for mobile usability, resulting in a cohesive, user-centered design that balanced accessibility with efficiency.
Key Enhancements
To create a seamless and user-friendly mobile experience, several enhancements were introduced to simplify processes, improve clarity, and reduce user errors. These adjustments not only supported a smoother experience for DMV users but also reinforced consistency and quality across services.
Breadcrumb Navigation
Originally used on the website to support long-form content, breadcrumbs were expanded into all mobile processes. By breaking information into smaller, manageable steps, users could easily track their progress, stay oriented, and remain engaged without feeling overwhelmed.
Price Details Accordion
To increase transparency and reduce confusion, an accordion component was added to display fee details. Since totals were often cumulative across multiple steps, this feature provided a clear, concise summary, helping users remain informed and confident about their payments throughout the process.
Dropdowns as Individual Steps
Instead of displaying lengthy dropdowns on a single screen, each dropdown was restructured into a dedicated step within the flow. This minimized cognitive load, improved clarity, and ensured that users could focus on one decision at a time. As a result, the process felt more approachable, and accuracy in user input significantly improved.
User Flow Visualization
This Figma file illustrates the step-by-step user flow for driver license renewal, showing how each interaction was designed to be clear, intuitive, and optimized for mobile.
The same approach was applied to design the flows for all other processes, ensuring consistency, minimizing friction, and creating a cohesive mobile experience.
Enhanced Features for Mobile
To support a true mobile-first experience, key services from the DMV’s web platform were thoughtfully adapted for smaller screens and on-the-go use. Each feature was streamlined to prioritize clarity, efficiency, and accessibility, ensuring that tasks could be completed quickly without sacrificing accuracy. By maintaining consistent functionality across all screens and aligning with the established design system, the app delivered an intuitive experience that kept essential information organized and always within reach.
Digital Driver License
The app provides a secure, user-friendly way to access and present a digital driver’s license directly. A green halo animation highlights the license for quick verification by officials, giving users confidence in its authenticity.
Renew Driver License & ID Card
Renewals are simplified with clear, step-by-step guidance. Users can easily update personal details such as medical conditions, address changes, or Board of Elections information, making the process faster and more intuitive.
Tag Surrender
The tag surrender process is streamlined through step-by-step instructions and instant access to a downloadable PDF confirmation. Users can complete the process confidently while keeping official documentation easily accessible.
Renew VEHICLE Registration
Registration renewal and related services are consolidated into a single, efficient flow. Users can manage parking permit payments, organ donor registry updates, and outstanding tickets with ease. The design emphasizes clarity and speed, ensuring tasks are completed quickly and without confusion.
Outcome and Impact
The mobile app transformed DMV services into a faster, clearer, and more user-friendly experience. Residents can now navigate, update, and complete tasks confidently on the go. Workflows and information are presented consistently and intuitively, ensuring accessibility for a diverse range of users and improving overall efficiency, accuracy, and satisfaction.