Project overview
Libraries play a vital role in the community by providing free access to information and services for everyone. With this project, we tried to help them build a digitally inclusive community.
Project Duration - 6 weeks (one-week sprints)
My Role - UX Designer
Team Members - Bijan Sharifi, Jessica Hanrahan, Lindy Young, Natalia Florman
Tools - Pen and paper, Axure RP 9, Sketch
Key deliverables - User research (domain research, competitive analysis, SME interview, user interview, user survey, contextual inquiry), persona, problem statement, user journey map, user stories, site map, task flows, paper prototype, formative testing, mid-fidelity wireframes and clickable prototype, usability testing, annotated wireframes
Brief
Design a product to improve the relationship between local libraries and the communities they serve.
Key research findings
In order to shed light upon the current challenges libraries and users are facing, we employed a thorough research plan that utilised both qualitative and quantitative methodologies varied from competitive analysis to subject matter expert interviews; user interviews to surveys.
User personas
Sarah Smith
She is 31 and has recently had a baby
“I want to be successful in my new business venture, but don’t want to spend so much on gaining new skills”
She wants to access resources and courses to develop new skills
She is frustrated that these cost a fortune, but doesn’t know if there could be an alternative way to access these
Pietro Frollo
He is a 29-year old teacher, and has recently moved to the UK from Italy
“It has always been my dream to be able to live and teach in the UK”
He wants to improve his English to work as an Italian teacher
He is frustrated that language courses cost a fortune, and doesn’t know any alternative solutions
Problem statement
Having synthesised our research findings and taken into account, we identified the problem we should try and solve for Sarah and Pietro as they need an efficient and affordable way to access library resources and activities because they want to develop their businesses and skills
Initial concepts and formative testing
Once we had our target audience and problem defined, next step for us was to ideate and generate concepts individually.
Here is my concept which allows its users to begin their search based on their location and provides them with libraries that are nearby.
Once a library is chosen, the platform then shows all information (from opening hours to available courses/events) as well as the option to search for different services that a library would provide. They can search and register for events they like while reserve any books as per their desires. One other feature this concept enables its users is that it allows to download content from the previous events/courses they attended through the product.
The initial formative testing showed that;
Users would be enticed to visit their local library if there was such a product available in the market, especially for events and personal development courses.
Separating each library service would make it clearer and more prominent at first glance. This would also allow users to understand the breadth of services the library has to offer.
Users would like if the app allowed them to save their public library.
Mid-fidelity wireframes and usability testing
Following the results from formative testing, as a group, we converged our ideas into one app and created a mid-fidelity prototype for usability testing. With this product, we wanted to;
Help users stay well-informed about community events and courses taking place in their local libraries
Provide them with a single platform where they could access all library services
Enable them to access and book library resources (books and computers) through their mobile device
Test findings
We conducted an in person usability testing where we put our prototype in front of 5 real users, and asked them to complete 3 tasks while thinking out loud. Some of the key points that were brought to our attention by our users were;
Confusion with labelling of some of the bottom navigation
Bookings page being too crowded, and resulting in primary action not being noticed by users
Despite some flags, majority of the participants appreciated the value the app brings, and said they’d use and recommend it to their friends and family.