MSU Libraries Digital Experience Kiosk
Keep scrolling to see the research & design process!
Role: Project Manager & User Researcher
Objective: Work in a team to assess the current interactive digital signs located around the MSU Libraries using different research methods to generate recommendations for enhancing the user experience through a finalized deliverable.
User Need Statement: MSU students, staff, and community members need a quick and efficient way to locate books and find general information about the MSU Library while they visit.
Client Goals: Accessible, User Friendly, Sustainable, Intuitive, Eye-catching (but not distracting)
Methods Used: User Personas → Heuristic Evaluation → Competitive Analysis → Field Study
Takeaways: UX Research, Project Management, Prototyping in Figma, Collaboration, Public Speaking
User Personas
The first step was to develop & define a group of personas that appropriately represented the target audience for this specific product. This helped us to better understand and empathize with the main user groups to prioritize specific tasks and features according to their needs.
Heuristic Evaluation
In the heuristic evaluation of the library's interactive digital sign system, I examined the Home, Find a Location, Find a Book, and Ask a Librarian screens against ten heuristics. This revealed key issues like poor placement of navigation buttons, confusing map orientations, and small text size. It did, however, highlight the potential benefits of a more collaborative approach and direct system interaction for deeper insights. We concluded that improvements in button visibility, spatial layout, color scheme, and page transitions were essential to boost usability and engagement.
Competitive Analysis
Next came the competitive analysis, I evaluated the MSU Digital Signs against similar systems to identify potential improvements, comparing it with the East Lansing Library website, the Kent District Library app, and Tanger Outlet Mall's navigation screens. I analyzed various features such as navigation, page layout, and assistance options. Key findings included the need for a search function, better graphical integration, and clearer assistance cues, which were present in the compared systems. Recommendations for enhancing the MSU Libraries Digital Signs included adding a search feature, a help icon, and social media feeds, alongside incorporating Spartan green to strengthen MSU branding. Despite challenges in finding comparable touch screen examples due to the technology's novelty, the analysis provided a solid foundation for future enhancements to user interaction and design.
Field Study
The final step before designing was to conduct a field study of the MSU Libraries Digital Signs, we tasked participants with finding a specific book, a librarian specialized in philosophy, and the location of the book "Makerspace" using the screens. Our participants included two students—one upperclassman familiar with the library and one underclassman new to it—as well as a faculty member, allowing us to capture diverse interaction perspectives. Key findings highlighted the system's lack of intuitiveness and poor touch sensitivity. Participants struggled with tasks like locating a book due to the unintuitive requirement of knowing the call number and inadequate navigation aids on the library map. However, finding a librarian proved straightforward for all participants. The touch sensitivity issues were particularly evident when users attempted to locate "Makerspace," experiencing difficulties in simply navigating the map. Insights from this study suggest the need for a more user-friendly interface that includes features like a search function and pathfinder on maps, as well as improved touch responsiveness. Future steps include redesigning the touchboard to enhance usability, particularly for new and infrequent users. Additionally, the study revealed missed opportunities for collecting broader feedback, suggesting that implementing a survey could enrich data collection and user engagement.
Takeaways
This project was a rewarding challenge that strengthened my UX research, project management, and collaboration skills while teaching me valuable lessons for professional growth. Using methods like persona development, heuristic evaluations, competitive analysis, and a field study, I identified key issues with the MSU Libraries' digital signs, such as unintuitive navigation, poor touch sensitivity, and a lack of essential features like a search function. The field study, in particular, revealed how real user frustrations can drive meaningful design improvements, while challenges like finding comparable systems and missed opportunities for broader feedback pushed me to adapt and think critically. Balancing client goals with user needs taught me the importance of user-centered design, clear communication, and iterative problem-solving—skills that will serve me well in tackling future design challenges.