Tools
Downloadable templates and resources to help you with specific tasks.
Content Audit Template
Websites grow and change over time. Content audits help you better understand the current state of your website, including how your content offerings are organized and what your gaps are. Start with our customizable content audit spreadsheet template.
Download:
Content Audit Template (XLSX, 18.1 KB) ⬇
Related Web Guidelines:
Complete a Redundant, Outdated, and Trivial (ROT) Analysis
Design Resources
Download USDA’s official visual design elements below. Note: The U.S. Web Design System (USWDS) has additional design files and HTML mockups of common user interface (UI) components.
Download:
USDA Header/Footer Design File (ZIP, 277 KB) (Sketch, 2 MB)⬇
USDA Logo (ZIP, 2 MB) ⬇
Social Media Icons (ZIP, 2 MB) ⬇
Related Web Guidelines:
- USDA Style Guide
- Use the U.S. Web Design System for Design
- USDA Masthead and Signature Lock-up
- USDA Footer
- USDA Colors
- USDA Icons
Usability Testing Tools
Observing your users as they interact with your website or product doesn’t require one-way glass or a fancy observation room. Learn how to conduct usability testing sessions in the field with high- or low-fidelity prototypes.
The toolkit includes the following tools:
Usability Testing Instructions
Identifying & Recruiting Research Participants
Demographic Form
Usability Testing Task Development Template
Usability Testing Guide/Script
Download:
Usability Testing Tools (Docx, 2 MB) ⬇
Related Web Guidelines:
Persona Template
Personas are fictionalized composites of typical users, showing off their needs, desires, and habits in a way to help guide your efforts and keep users front-and-center in your attention. Learn how to create useful personas.
Download:
Persona Template (Docx, 2 MB) ⬇
Related Web Guidelines:
Service Blueprinting Template
Service Blueprints help you to visualize how the services and programs within your agency meet customer needs. Blueprints are a powerful first step in understanding service offerings, and allow you to improve current services and develop new offerings.
Download:
Service Blueprinting Template (Docx, 123 KB) ⬇
Related Web Guidelines:
Heuristic Review Template
Heuristic Reviews test how well websites perform against specific usability criteria. See our sample guide for Heuristic Reviews.
Download:
Heuristic Review Template (Docx, 2 MB) ⬇
Related Web Guidelines:
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Tell Us What You Think
The USDA Digital Strategy is being produced iteratively and relies on feedback from you to tell us what content you need to see, as well as what is and isn’t working. To send feedback, email us at feedback@usda.gov.
