Fact Sheet: President Donald J. Trump Improves our Nation Through Better Design
8/21/2025
Action Summary
- Initiative Launch: President Trump signs an Executive Order to launch the “America by Design” initiative aimed at enhancing Federal digital and physical services.
- National Design Studio Establishment: Creation of the National Design Studio and appointment of a Chief Design Officer to improve design standards, reduce duplicative costs, and recruit top private-sector designers.
- Agency Collaboration: Agency heads are directed to work with the Chief Design Officer to update websites, physical interfaces, and the United States Web Design System (USWDS), ensuring compliance with the 21st Century IDEA Act.
- Challenges with Federal Interfaces: Highlights issues with outdated and poorly designed Federal digital services, including overly complex legacy systems, mobile performance issues, and inconsistent user experiences.
- Broader Efficiency Initiatives: Emphasizes ongoing measures by the Trump Administration to modernize government processes, such as reducing veterans’ benefits backlogs, digitizing payment and retirement record systems, and streamlining funding opportunities with plain language.
Risks & Considerations
- The Executive Order’s focus on improving the design and usability of Federal services could lead to increased expectations for similar improvements in university services, potentially requiring Vanderbilt to invest in enhancing its digital and physical interfaces.
- There is a risk that the emphasis on design and usability could shift public and private sector resources towards these initiatives, potentially impacting the availability of design talent and resources for other projects, including those at Vanderbilt.
- The establishment of the National Design Studio and the role of Chief Design Officer may create new opportunities for collaboration between Vanderbilt and Federal agencies, particularly in areas related to design and user experience research.
- Vanderbilt may need to consider how these changes in Federal service design could affect its interactions with government agencies, particularly in terms of compliance with new design standards and expectations.
Impacted Programs
- Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering may see increased demand for expertise in design and usability, presenting opportunities for research and collaboration with Federal agencies.
- The Office of Digital Strategy at Vanderbilt might need to evaluate its current digital interfaces to ensure they meet the evolving expectations set by Federal standards.
- Vanderbilt’s Public Policy Studies program could benefit from analyzing the impacts of these design improvements on public trust and government efficiency, providing valuable insights for policy development.
- The Center for Technology and Innovation at Vanderbilt could explore partnerships with the National Design Studio to contribute to the development of innovative design solutions for Federal services.
Financial Impact
- The focus on design improvements in Federal services may lead to increased funding opportunities for research and development in design and usability, which Vanderbilt could leverage to enhance its own programs and initiatives.
- Vanderbilt might experience changes in its funding landscape if Federal grants prioritize projects related to design and usability improvements, necessitating adjustments in grant application strategies.
- There may be opportunities for Vanderbilt to secure contracts or partnerships with Federal agencies seeking expertise in design and usability, potentially generating additional revenue streams.
- As Federal services become more user-friendly, there could be a shift in the expectations of students and faculty regarding the usability of university services, potentially impacting resource allocation and investment priorities.
Relevance Score: 3 (The order presents moderate risks involving compliance and potential opportunities for collaboration and funding in design and usability improvements.)
Key Actions
- Vanderbilt’s Information Technology Department should explore partnerships with the National Design Studio to enhance the usability and aesthetics of its digital services. By aligning with federal initiatives, Vanderbilt can improve its own digital interfaces and potentially influence national standards.
- The Department of Computer Science could leverage this initiative to develop research projects focused on improving digital service design and usability. Collaborating with the Chief Design Officer could provide valuable insights and opportunities for students and faculty.
- Vanderbilt’s Office of Federal Relations should monitor the implementation of the America by Design initiative to identify potential funding opportunities for research and development in digital design and user experience.
- The Peabody College of Education and Human Development could incorporate the principles of the America by Design initiative into its curriculum, preparing students to contribute to the modernization of federal and educational digital services.
Opportunities
- The executive order presents an opportunity for Vanderbilt’s School of Engineering to engage in projects that align with the modernization of federal digital services. By contributing to the development of standardized design systems, the school can enhance its reputation in the field of digital innovation.
- Vanderbilt can capitalize on the focus on improving government services by hosting workshops and conferences on digital design and usability. This could position the university as a leader in the national conversation on digital service modernization.
- The emphasis on reducing duplicative design costs and improving public interactions with government services aligns with Vanderbilt’s commitment to efficiency and innovation. The university can develop programs and initiatives that support these goals, enhancing its role as a thought leader in digital transformation.
Relevance Score: 3 (Some adjustments are needed to processes or procedures to align with federal digital service modernization initiatives.)
Timeline for Implementation
N/A – The directive does not specify any deadlines or enforcement delays, only the establishment of new offices and roles to guide improvements.
Relevance Score: 1
Impacted Government Organizations
- National Design Studio: A newly established entity tasked with enhancing the design, usability, and aesthetics of both digital and physical Federal services.
- Chief Design Officer Office: A new leadership role created to recruit top designers and oversee design improvements across Federal agencies.
- Federal Agencies Nationwide: Every agency with digital or physical service interfaces is required to collaborate with the Chief Design Officer to implement the “America by Design” initiative, including updating websites per the USWDS and ensuring compliance with the 21st Century IDEA Act.
- Digital Services and IT Teams: These teams within agencies are directed to modernize legacy systems, improve mobile performance, and eliminate duplicative design costs.
- Agencies Involved in Service Modernization: This includes agencies handling veterans’ benefits, payment systems, and retirement record digitization, as they are mentioned in parallel modernization efforts under the Order.
Relevance Score: 5 (The directive applies broadly across Federal agencies and impacts a wide array of government organizations.)
Responsible Officials
- Chief Design Officer – Leads the newly established National Design Studio and drives the design improvements across Federal digital and physical services.
- Agency Heads – Required to collaborate with the Chief Design Officer to implement the “America by Design” initiative within their respective agencies.
Relevance Score: 4 (Directives affect agency heads with the responsibility of collaborating on and implementing modernization efforts across agencies.)