Our Client
IDbGLAM – International Database of Galleries | Libraries | Archives | Museums
Duration
Oct ’24 to Dec ’24 (6 weeks)
My Role
UX Researcher
My Responsibilities
Recruited participants; Moderated user tests’ Developed research methodologies; Analyzed and synthesized data; Created user test reports; Facilitated client meetings
Tools
Zoom, Notion, Figma, GSuite
Team Members
Merlyn Koonamparampath, Joanne Li, Zhen Chu
What does IDbGLAM do?
IDbGLAM is an online platform that provides comprehensive information about galleries, libraries, archives, and museums worldwide. It serves as an international database, offering detailed listings, educational resources, and access to a vast network of cultural institutions. IDBGlam enables users—whether researchers, educators, or art enthusiasts—to explore global collections, exhibitions, and cultural heritage with ease.
The Need for a User-Centered Redesign
The founder of IDbGLAM aimed to expand the website’s reach to a broader audience interested in galleries, libraries, archives, and museums (GLAM), beyond just GLAM professionals. To achieve this, the user experience (UX) needed significant improvements. The Explore section, which includes the Homepage and Add Listing page, required a redesign to make it more engaging and accessible.
The goal was to create a visually appealing and user-friendly interface that encourages visitors to search and actively contribute by adding information about various institutions to the database, fostering a collaborative and dynamic platform for the GLAM community
What we thought about the Current website
Before the usability study, we explored the existing website to understand its offerings and plan design recommendations for the future.
The Explore page
The Explore page felt cluttered and overwhelming, with too much information and no clear starting point. While the content was valuable, poor hierarchy and organization made navigation difficult. We found that useful information was buried, waiting to be highlighted.
The Add Listing Page
The Add Listing page offered two forms: Quick Entry for basic info and Full Entry for more detailed data. However, the technical language confused general users, and the complex instructions made the process harder for those unfamiliar with the platform. This discouraged engagement and user participation.
The Iterative Design Process
The iterative design process focuses on continuous improvement through cycles of prototyping, testing, feedback, and refinement until the design meets user needs and business goals.
Key Steps include:
- Research & Ideation: Understand the problem and brainstorm solutions.
- Prototyping: Create design concepts.
- Testing: Gather user feedback.
- Refinement: Adjust design based on feedback.
- Launch & Evaluate: Launch and update based on ongoing feedback.
Our Interview Process
As UX professionals, we brought fresh ideas to improve the design. However, to ensure our solutions were truly relevant to the GLAM context, we tested our initial design drafts, particularly the Add Listing page, through user interviews. This allowed us to validate our hypotheses and align our approach with the needs and expectations of GLAM professionals.
We conducted 3 rounds of moderated user interviews with a total of 9 participants. After each round, we refined the designs based on user feedback and presented the updated concepts to the client.
- Round 1: We conducted Baseline Interviews with 3 GLAM enthusiasts on the current Explore and Add Listing page along with a Low-Fidelity mockup of the Add Listing page
- Round 2: We conducted Interviews with 3 GLAM enthusiasts on our Mid-Fidelity prototypes of Explore and Add Listing page
- Round 3: We conducted Interviews with 3 GLAM professionals on our High-Fidelity prototypes of Explore and Add Listing page
User Interview Focus Areas
During the interviews, users were repeatedly asked questions centered around the following themes:
- Their initial impressions of the site
- How easy or difficult it was to understand the site’s offerings at first glance
- Any aspects of the site that were confusing
- Whether the site appeared well-organized
Identified Usability Issues
After conduction the interviews, we analyzed the data and found the following concerns about the website:
ISSUE 1
100% of the users found the Explore page confusing, overwhelmed by excessive information, and unclear about the site’s purpose at first glance
The website struggled with poor organization, information overload, and cluttered content, making it hard for users to navigate and find relevant information. The lack of clear hierarchy and structure led to a frustrating experience, causing users to feel overloaded and disengaged, ultimately impacting usability and appeal.
ISSUE 2
66% of the users found the ‘Add Listing’ concept unclear and expressed no interest in engaging with the feature
As a new site relying on user contributions, there was low interest in the forms due to a lengthy information page. Users abandoned the site or explored other features. The two forms lacked distinction, and information could be better organized. Jargon in labels confused users, hindering engagement.
ISSUE 3
100% of the users called out the site for feeling outdated and made it clear they wouldn’t trust it to explore institutions—calling into question its relevance and appeal
This negatively impacts the brand’s perception and contradicts the site’s mission. With no sense of reliability, users were reluctant to rely on it as a primary source of institutional information, undermining the site’s core goal.
“The site looks outdated and I wouldn’t trust it for information, because I am not sure if the information displayed is current, relevant or is frequently updated”
~ Anonymous participant
Our Proposed Designs solutions
Based on the user feedback, we developed design solutions that not only address user needs but also align with the client’s objectives, ensuring a more effective and engaging experience.
Click to view Prototype
RECOMMENDATION 1
Simplify the design layout to focus on content and improve flow
Based on user feedback, we recommended several improvements for the Explore page to enhance user experience:
- Location Personalization: Allow users to view and change their location for tailored institution suggestions.
- Institution Filters: Introduce filters to help users easily identify and search for specific types of institutions.
- Contribution Encouragement: Add a prominent CTA for users to contribute listings if their local or favorite institutions are missing.
- Exhibit Section: Create a dedicated section for users to easily discover exhibits, especially those near their location.
These changes aim to make the page more user-friendly, engaging, and aligned with user expectations, while ensuring that valuable content stands out and is easily accessible.
RECOMMENDATION 2
Create a Single Form to Enhance Efficiency
Based on user feedback, we recommended several improvements for the Add Listing page to enhance usability:
- Single, Simplified Form: Consolidated the two forms into one to reduce unnecessary fields and streamline the process.
- Improved Navigation: Added left-side tabs for easier access to specific sections without endless scrolling.
- Clear Language: Replaced jargon with everyday terms to make the form more user-friendly.
- Expandable Sections: Incorporated expandable fields for users to add multiple entries, offering flexibility for different institution needs.
These changes are designed to provide a smoother, more intuitive experience, boosting user engagement by allowing users to select the information they wish to contribute, which in turn encourages more entries on the website.
RECOMMENDATION 3
Refine design to improve brand identity and user trust
To strengthen the brand identity, we recommended the following changes:
- Branding Elements: Introduced visual elements that clearly communicate the site’s purpose and what it offers, creating an immediate connection with users.
- Enhanced Visual Design: Improved imagery and design to evoke a sense of delight and encourage users to explore further.
- Engaging Copy: Used clear, engaging language in well-defined sections to help users understand the site’s offerings and mission.
- Showcasing Smaller Institutions: Added a section to highlight smaller or lesser known GLAM institutions, providing them visibility and encouraging users to return for new content.
These recommendations aim to create a more compelling and recognizable brand presence that resonates with users and supports the site’s goals.
How do these design changes unlock revenue potential?
As the long-term business goal is to turn the website into a for-profit platform, we explored ways to integrate marketing spaces into the design to generate initial revenue. To validate our approach, we interviewed 3 GLAM professionals with expertise in marketing.
Potential Revenue stream 1 – Hero Section Ads
100% of GLAM Professionals Said ‘Yes’ to Hero Section Ads for Their Institutions
Since this is the first thing users see upon entering the site, it provides institutions with an opportunity to effectively advertise themselves to a wider audience, encouraging visitors to explore their info pages and potentially redirecting them to their own websites.
Potential Revenue stream 2 – Featured Exhibits
33% of GLAM Professionals will Pay to Advertise their Exhibit in the Featured Section
Since the exhibit section isn’t as prominent as the hero section, institutions were hesitant to pay for advertising. However, they suggested that if exhibits had a dedicated section with prioritized content, it could encourage institutions to invest in advertising their exhibits.
User Reactions
During and after the interview process, users expressed appreciation for the significant improvements in the design, highlighting how much easier it was to navigate the proposed solution.
Here are a few testimonials:
“Museums are all about Culture, and I like how this new design feels modern and showcases relevant exhibits, events and news”
~ GLAM Professional
“I find this website valuable for learning about new institutions and would love to use it once it’s live!”
~ Anonymous Participant
Client Feedback
After 6 weeks of research, we presented our findings to the Founder of IDbGLAM for feedback and potential implementation on the IDbGLAM website. During the discussion, we also addressed technical feasibility and emphasized that our design approach was focused on the long-term sustainability of the company, particularly as it establishes itself in the early stages of the GLAM sector.
Although we took an approach that deviated from the current business model, which made us a bit skeptical about the client’s reaction, they were impressed by our findings and thanked us for helping the company establish a stronger foundation.
“I can see the effort you’ve all put into this, and I truly appreciate the time and dedication. It’s better than I expected, and it feels great to know others see its value too. I’m really satisfied with how it’s turned out!”
~ Founder of IDbGLAM
Key Takeaways from the Project
- User Insights Are Invaluable: Interviews with the right users provided key insights, revealing pain points and preferences we hadn’t anticipated, which shaped our design solutions.
- Challenging Assumptions Leads to Better Solutions: Listening to diverse user perspectives challenged our assumptions, refining our designs and making them more user-aligned.
- The Power of Iteration: The iterative design process was crucial in refining our solutions. User feedback helped us continuously improve the design to better meet their needs and expectations.
- Balancing Business and User Goals: While we challenged some business goals, we kept the company’s long-term vision in mind. This balance enabled us to create solutions that met user needs and supported sustainable growth.
- Design Drives Growth: By aligning the user experience with the company’s goals, we crafted a solution that boosts user engagement and supports long-term business success.