Project overview
While conducting a UX audit of the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA) website, I identified an inconsistency in the site’s call-to-action buttons. Several pages used red buttons for routine actions, despite red typically being associated with warnings, errors, or urgent actions. Because color plays a significant role in user perception and behavior, I wanted to investigate whether this design choice could negatively impact usability and accessibility.
Focusing on the problem
The SBA website primarily follows the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS), which commonly uses blue as the primary action color across federal websites. During my audit, I found pages using red buttons for standard calls to action, often paired with vague labels such as “Learn More.”
This raised several questions:
Was the use of red intentional?
Did the color communicate urgency where none existed?
Could users misinterpret these actions?
Did the implementation align with SBA brand standards and USWDS guidance?
Discovery
To better understand the issue, I conducted a usability audit and informal guerrilla testing with colleagues, friends, and family. Participants were shown examples of the red buttons and asked for their initial impressions.
Common themes emerged:
Red was frequently associated with warnings or critical actions.
Users expected red buttons to lead to urgent or high-priority content.
The buttons appeared visually inconsistent with the rest of the site.
The audit also revealed that red buttons appeared only on a small number of pages, suggesting they were not part of a consistent design pattern.
Research
The SBA website follows the U.S. Web Design System (USWDS), which emphasizes accessibility, consistency, and usability across government websites.
My research focused on:
- USWDS guidance on color usage
- SBA brand standards
- Accessibility best practices
- Color psychology and user perception
I found that blue was the standard primary action color used throughout the SBA website and across many government sites. Red, by contrast, is generally reserved for alerts, warnings, errors, or urgent actions such as disaster assistance programs.
Additionally, USWDS advises against relying on color alone to communicate meaning, noting that color should serve as a supporting cue rather than the sole indicator of importance.
Design approach
Goal
Align button styling with SBA brand guidelines while creating a more consistent and predictable user experience.
Accessibility Review
Before proposing any changes, I verified color contrast ratios using the WebAIM Contrast Checker to ensure all recommended colors met WCAG accessibility standards.
Rapid Prototyping
Rather than creating static mockups in Figma, I used Chrome Developer Tools to modify the live page in real time. This allowed stakeholders to immediately compare the existing red button against the proposed blue alternative.
The live demonstration included:
- Changing the button from red to the SBA primary blue
- Updating all-caps button text to sentence case
- Reviewing hover states for accessibility compliance
Because the changes were visible instantly, stakeholders could quickly evaluate the impact without requiring a formal prototype.
Proposed solution
Visual Updates
Use SBA’s primary blue for standard calls to action
Reserve red for urgent or time-sensitive actions only
Maintain accessible hover and focus states
Content Updates
Use sentence case instead of all caps
Replace vague button labels such as “Learn More” with more descriptive action-oriented language
Design System Alignment
Standardize button usage across the site
Follow established SBA branding and USWDS conventions
Ensure urgency is communicated through both content and visual hierarchy—not color alone
Implementation and outcome
Following approval, implementation was straightforward.
I documented:
- Updated color values
- Accessibility considerations
- Revised button text recommendations
The specifications were provided through Jira for development handoff.
Because the change was limited in scope and well-supported by research, no additional design iterations were required.
Outcome
The approved changes brought the page into closer alignment with SBA branding, USWDS standards, and accessibility best practices.
By reserving red for truly urgent actions and using blue for standard calls to action, the design became:
- More consistent
- More accessible
- Easier for users to interpret
- Better aligned with established design system patterns
This project reinforced an important UX principle: even small visual inconsistencies can influence user expectations and behavior. Through research, accessibility validation, and stakeholder communication, I was able to advocate for a simple change that improved both usability and design consistency.
Key takeaways
- Color carries meaning and should be used intentionally.
- Accessibility extends beyond contrast ratios to include user perception and comprehension.
- Small UX improvements can have meaningful impact when supported by research.
- Live demonstrations can be more effective than static mockups when presenting focused UI changes to stakeholders.