Background

SurePass, originally founded as ID Verifi in April of 2024, was created to address a growing and urgent challenge: the inability to reliably verify identity and authority using traditional credentials like plastic ID cards. From day one, I was brought on by the founders to help design and architect a solution that could meet the needs of high-stakes environments.

The founders had already engaged with stakeholders across government, education, and law enforcement—sectors increasingly impacted by forged credentials, falsified titles, and a troubling rise in police impersonation. The risks were real, and the demand for a secure, scalable solution was immediate.

I had direct, unrestricted access to Subject Matter Experts throughout the Minimum Viable Product (MVP) design process—a critical advantage that shaped our approach. Leveraging their insights, we built a streamlined system centered on mobile ID and app-based digital profiles. Within the first few months, our team successfully delivered the core functionality of the MVP.

Inception

Our initiative began by conducting a comprehensive competitive analysis to identify market gaps and opportunities. From there, we had an inception of our MVP, aligning product strategy with user needs and technical feasibility.

To guide development and cross-functional alignment, I mapped initial user flows that clarified core interactions and informed our product roadmap. These early design artifacts laid the groundwork for a secure, user-centric platform capable of redefining identity verification in sensitive environments.

Field Studies and Observation

From our inception, developing personas revealed a wide spectrum of technical proficiency across our user base. Support staff tended to be highly tech-savvy, while more seasoned law enforcement officers (LEOs) often had less familiarity with digital tools.

Given the nature of our product and this broad range of tech experience, our team aligned early on that field studies and direct observation would be essential to our UX research approach.

Through these studies, we found that the app’s core functionality—identity verification—was generally intuitive and effective. However, we began to notice friction among less tech-savvy users when interacting with our digital ID format: the Wallet Pass. Further investigation revealed that many of these users had little to no prior experience setting up or using Wallet Passes, which created a barrier to adoption.

Customer Dashboard

To complement the mobile app, we built a robust web-based portal that equips administrators with real-time operational intelligence. The portal offers powerful tools for credential monitoring, clearance activity logging, and firearms tracking—ensuring secure, streamlined oversight across all critical operations. Designed with a responsive layout, the portal adapts seamlessly to tablet use, enabling on-site access and decision-making in dynamic field environments.

Physical ID Card

During our field studies, we discovered that relying solely on Wallet Passes as the primary ID solution created barriers to adoption. To address this, we introduced NFC-enabled ID cards as an alternative verification method. Our research showed that law enforcement users already carried work-issued identification cards, which immediately reduced friction. We then designed a step-by-step activation process within the SurePass app, allowing users to enable their IDs directly. This not only eliminated the challenges associated with Wallet Passes but also eased the burden on agency administrators, who no longer needed to manually add employees themselves.

Prototype Animation

I built a prototype for the physical card activation process, creating a tangible way to validate whether our proposed solution truly addressed the underlying problem. We conducted hands-on testing with both end users and partner agencies, and the results were overwhelmingly positive—the prototype not only solved the issue but also instilled confidence in the solution’s effectiveness.

Artifact — SurePass Design System (MUI)

After exploring a range of foundational design systems, I chose MUI for its rare combination of simplicity, robustness, and accessibility within React. We invested in the paid tier to unlock advanced DataGrid components, which became critical to our workflow. From there, I customized the system to fit our unique product needs, building in scalability and ensuring design consistency across the platform.

Artifact — Agency Verification Assets

To support seamless verification in the field, I designed a suite of on‑site print assets—including posters, stickers, and cards—each embedded with QR codes that link directly to the SurePass app. These materials were strategically developed to guide users through the verification process and reduce friction at agency checkpoints, ensuring faster adoption and smoother operations.

Reflection — My final thoughts

I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve accomplished at SurePass. Since starting from the ground up in April 2024, the traction we’ve gained has been remarkable. Today, we serve more than 1,000 users and have secured contracts with the Arapahoe County Sheriff’s Department, Adams County Sheriff’s Office, and the Colorado State Patrol—who are actively deploying SurePass at the Colorado State Capitol. Our sales team is currently engaged with 87 additional agencies nationwide, and we’ve launched pilot programs with the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office, the Colorado Rangers, and the City of Sheridan Police Department. As SurePass continues to grow and expand its impact, I feel it’s the right time for me to pursue new goals and aspirations.