Elevating Content Discovery Experience through User-Centered Design
A client that provided an integrated suite of cloud-based applications built specifically for libraries needed some user experience for their discovery application.
Due to confidentiality reasons I am unable to disclose artefacts and deliverables, please get in contact to hear more about my experience
Task
The objective was to enhance the user experience of a content discovery application that encompassed a wide variety of media items, often linked to third-party providers. The project focused on the initial design stages of pre-planning and exploration.
Actions
Developed user personas to gain insights into user needs and behaviours.
Conducted a comprehensive comparative assessment to align with user expectations.
Devised efficient wayfinding mechanisms through the incorporation of filtering options.
Crafted an interactive experience to facilitate users in discovering new and pertinent content.
Employed user interface (UI) patterns and cues to provide users with guidance at every step of their journey.
Results
Strengthened search capabilities, including the implementation of autocomplete and advanced search features.
Provided users the flexibility to switch between grid and list view for displaying search results.
Introduced a persistent search bar and navigation elements to expedite site exploration.
Offered clear pagination indicators and result counts for easy comprehension.
Gradually refined user navigation through progressive filtering options.
Seamlessly integrated breadcrumb trails to aid users in finding their way.
Adopted a clean and minimalistic design approach, focusing on vital components like thumbnails, ratings, and call-to-action buttons.
Utilized color coding for category differentiation and iconography for format identification.
Emphasized star ratings in search results to highlight peer reviews.
Encouraged user engagement by enabling list creation and item tagging.
Enhanced content discoverability by suggesting related items based on user selections.
Deliverables
The project yielded a comprehensive set of deliverables, including user flows, information architecture, user personas, a comparative assessment, UX/UI design patterns, and wireframes for both desktop and mobile platforms.
Through the concerted effort to address content discovery challenges and employ a user-centric approach, the content discovery application underwent a transformation, delivering an enriched user experience that seamlessly navigated through a diverse array of media items.
“I enlisted the help of Gav as a UX designer. She was brilliant in helping us translate our ideas and goals into a solid concept through the use of desktop and mobile wireframes. The process she followed allowed us to uncover users goals and characteristics that in turn clarified the user journey. One of our hurdles was rethinking the existing complex user journey and how to tackle the many variables we were faced with. Gav produced a well-suited navigation style that represented a minimal yet useful method of navigating a content-rich site without overwhelming the users. Throughout the project, Gav was highly focused, enthusiastic and a pleasure to work with.”