Capitol.wa.gov wins six awards for design and user experience
In July 2024, the Department of Enterprise Services (DES) launched Capitol.wa.gov to make it easier for people to plan their visit to Washington's Capitol Campus.
Since then, the site has earned six national awards recognizing excellence in government, tourism, public service design, and user experience.
Why a new website?
Each year, thousands of people visit the Capitol Campus—but many struggled to find the information they needed. Previously, campus details were buried deep within the broader DES website. To fix that, DES partnered with WaTech to create a dedicated, user-friendly site built around feedback from visitors and staff.
What's new
Capitol.wa.gov features:
- Streamlined navigation and fresh design
- Tips for planning your visit
- Easy access to book a tour
- An interactive campus map
- Stories on artwork, memorials, trees and more
Early testing showed that 78% of users easily found what they needed, and the site earned a usability score of 84 out of 100 — a strong indicator of a better experience for visitors.
A customer-centered effort
This project is part of DES' broader website improvement project, which also includes a full redesign of DES.wa.gov in November 2022 and a new site for the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) in May 2025. The Capitol.wa.gov launch reflects DES' commitment to improving how people interact with government online.
Contact Us
DES Communications
media@des.wa.gov
360-407-9300