The Knesset Observer

The Knesset Observer

"The Knesset Observer" is a solo project I created in my free time following the events in Israel in 2023, particularly the legislative reform.
Driven by a need to better understand what was happening, I began watching Knesset committee broadcasts and quickly realized how valuable it would be for everyone to have clear, concise summaries to stay informed and engaged with the legislative process.

Type

Responsive Web App

Date

2023

Industries

Government

Civic Engagement

Information Accessibility

Challenge

The Israeli Knesset's legislative process is complex and difficult for the public to follow. Existing information is often scattered, technical, and inaccessible to non-experts.

Solution

The Knesset Observer simplifies legislative tracking by offering a clear, user-friendly platform where users can easily monitor bills, Knesset members, and parties, while understanding key highlights at a glance.

Making Legislative Activity Digestible

The Knesset website can overwhelm users with hundreds of proposals, most of which won’t go anywhere.

“On the Agenda” screen cuts through the noise, showing only bills moving toward a preliminary reading.

It helps users focus on real, active legislation, bridging the gap between citizens and what’s actually happening.

Personalized Bill Tracking

The "My Bills" screen lets users follow specific proposals they’ve chosen to track.

Smart filters enable sorting by status: unread updates, still-active bills, those removed from the agenda, or newly passed laws.

This structure allows users to stay effortlessly informed, without getting lost in the bureaucracy.

Legislation that made it, all in one place

The “Passed Laws” screen displays all laws enacted during a specific Knesset term, filling a crucial gap in how citizens access historical data.

Instead of digging through cumbersome government websites, users get a streamlined, searchable overview of actual legislative outcomes.

The Law Page – Where Clarity Meets Depth

The Law Page – Where Clarity Meets Depth

Each law card highlights what matters: the proposal’s topic, the committee it was discussed in, who proposed it (with photo and party affiliation), and a short, plain-language summary.

Each law card highlights what matters: the proposal’s topic, the committee it was discussed in, who proposed it (with photo and party affiliation), and a short, plain-language summary.

Cross-Screen UX Value: Radical Transparency and Accessibility

Cross-Screen UX Value: Radical Transparency and Accessibility

Advanced filters let users explore legislation based on what truly matters to them - whether it’s the law’s content, its initiators, or just a smart keyword.

Advanced filters let users explore legislation based on what truly matters to them - whether it’s the law’s content, its initiators, or just a smart keyword.

The Law Simulator - See the change, side by side

Amendments are often obscure and hard to follow.
The law simulator displays the original law alongside proposed changes, with clear explanations for each edit.

This is a first-of-its-kind tool in the Israeli civic space - and a big leap in legislative transparency.

Every debate, made accessible - The Discussion Hub

Every committee discussion about a law is archived and enriched with accessibility tools:

  • AI-powered chaptering

  • Speaker segmentation

  • Readable transcripts

  • Advanced search (whether within one meeting or across all discussions of a bill)

User Research Methodology

Survey

To validate the core product idea and test initial hypotheses, I conducted a survey targeting potential users. The goal was to assess the need for a product like this and identify whether the underlying assumptions were aligned with real user needs.

N = 45

Interviews

I followed up with in-depth interviews to explore user personas on a deeper level. These conversations focused on uncovering pain points, behaviors, and motivations - to understand what would truly drive engagement with the product.

N = 10

User Research Insights

Language Barrier

Information Overload

Transparency Gap

Erosion of Trust in Media

User Personas

Competitve Analysis Insights

Competitor

Strengths

Strengths,

Weaknesses

Weaknesses,

Key Learnings

Key Learnings

Full and accurate information

Full and accurate information

Outdated UX, difficult navigation

Outdated UX, difficult navigation

Need for accessible presentation

Need for accessible presentation

Open access to data


Open access to data


Open access to data

Not consistently updated, mediocre UX

Not consistently updated, mediocre UX

Opportunity for improved user experience

Opportunity for improved user experience

Opportunity for improved user experience

Reliable, comprehensive legal information

Reliable, comprehensive legal information

Too heavy and technical for the general public

Too heavy and technical for the general public

Need for simplification and accessibility

Need for simplification and accessibility

News Websites (Ynet, Haaretz, etc.)

News Websites (Ynet, Haaretz, etc.)

High accessibility

High accessibility

Partial, filtered information, lacks depth

Partial, filtered information, lacks depth

Opportunity to offer comprehensive, unbiased view

Opportunity to offer comprehensive, unbiased view

Simple UX, accessible analytics

Simple UX, accessible analytics

No comparable platform in Israel

No comparable platform in Israel

Simple UX, accessible analytics

Simple UX, accessible analytics

Fast, trustworthy information understanding

Fast, trustworthy information understanding

Not directly focused on legislation

Not directly focused on legislation

Inspiration for clear and reliable UX

Inspiration for clear and reliable UX

Data Analysis

Mapping Legislative Data: Structuring Complexity for User Understanding
As part of designing an accessible experience around legislative proposals, I conducted an in-depth analysis of the available data.

This data analysis shaped how information is displayed throughout the platform, ensuring that users can easily grasp the context, status, and key details of each bill without being overwhelmed.

I mapped each field associated with a bill (e.g., status, initiator, committee, voting dates).

I identified the logical connections between fields (e.g., how a bill's status changes across different stages).

I assessed the importance of each field for user understanding, focusing on clarity and relevance.

Information Architecture

Wireframes & User Testing

Before moving into high-fidelity design, I crafted several rounds of wireframes to explore structure, hierarchy, and user flow. I tested early versions with potential users to validate assumptions, spot friction points, and understand what really resonated. Each round of feedback led to thoughtful iterations, some small, some structural - until the experience felt intuitive, focused, and useful. These sessions not only shaped the design, but also deepened my understanding of how people engage with legislative content.

Branding

אבג

Heebo

Let's Work Together :)

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Design and development by Lotem Eldar