UX DESIGNER & RESEARCHER WITH 9+ YEARS OF EXPERIENCE IN FEDERAL DIGITAL SERVICES

Creating thoughtful digital experiences where people and public services connect.

Waist-up Portrait of David Pearl looking confident. David has tanned skin, glasses, and short black hair, wearing a neutral colored jacket, white tee, and a watch.

I design intuitive interfaces and research-driven experiences that help people navigate complex systems more easily. My focus on accessibility and human-centered design has helped federal agencies and healthcare organizations better serve their diverse users, from Veterans seeking benefits to patients managing their health information.

Throughout my career, I've worked at the intersection of public service, healthcare, and technology—helping organizations like the VA, Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services, and Office of Disease Prevention & Health Promotion transform how they connect digitally with the people they serve.

My Approach

I follow a user-centered design process in my work, which means the needs of actual users guide everything I do. My process isn't linear—it's iterative and responsive, moving between research, ideation, prototyping, and testing as insights emerge. This approach ensures solutions address real problems, not assumed ones.

When I led the redesign of VA's verification system, for example, our team discovered through research that Veterans needed access outside of mobile apps. By expanding to a web platform and focusing on what matters to Veterans, we created a solution that eliminated 180,000 printed cards annually while serving 9M+ Veterans better.

Key Skills

Research & Evaluation

User interviews and contextual inquiry

Usability testing with specialized populations
Participatory design sessions
Card sorting and journey mapping
Accessibility evaluation (WCAG 2.1, Section 508)
Heuristic evaluation

Ideation & Prototyping

Collaborative workshops
Information architecture for complex systems
User flows and wireframing
Rapid prototyping and iteration
Design system implementation
Mobile-first responsive design

Technical Skills

Figma, Adobe Creative Suite, Sketch
Accessibility testing tools (NVDA, VoiceOver)
Project management (JIRA, GitHub)
Agile methodologies
Mural, Optimal Workshop, UserTesting

WHY WORK WITH DAVID?

Federal Digital Experience Expertise

I've spent years designing for government platforms with complex requirements, including extensive work with the VA.gov collaboration cycle. I understand how to navigate agency processes while maintaining focus on the end user's needs. My designs have helped Veterans find benefits faster, Medicare recipients make informed healthcare choices, and public health campaigns reach broader audiences.

Proven Results Through Collaboration

My work on MyHealthfinder earned a 2023 ClearMark Award for Best Digital Product, but what matters most is how it's helping people find relevant health information. By partnering closely with content specialists, engineers, and researchers, we created an experience that significantly improved user engagement. I believe great experiences emerge from teams that communicate well and share a commitment to the people they're serving.

Accessibility-First Mindset

Accessibility isn't a checkbox for me—it's fundamental to good design. I've led initiatives to improve digital experiences for people with disabilities across multiple government platforms, ensuring that essential services work for everyone. My ability to translate technical requirements into user-friendly interfaces has helped millions access information and services they couldn't before.