Distinguishing between physical and digital items to simplify how users determine resource access.
Labels for categories like 'Catalog' and 'Articles' to help users understand how the results are organized.
Displaying descriptions directly in search results so users can evaluate relevance faster.
Years of previous user research showed that undergraduate students struggled to onboard to Library Search, a significant barrier to student success.
Incoming students have a ‘Google bias’ from their extensive prior internet search experience, where the best answer is handed to them instantly with zero "digging." However, library discovery is intentionally designed to shift students from passive consumers to active agents, requiring them to critically evaluate materials, a mismatch in expectations which causes friction and frustration.
Many students receive limited library instruction, meaning they don't understand fundamental terminology such as catalogs, databases, and subscriptions. This makes Library Search's result categories essentially meaningless to them.
Students have a preference for online materials. Ambiguous format labels cause students to fail to recognize that "Book" entries may offer immediate online access, causing students to miss valuable resources.
How might we clarify ambiguous elements in the search flow without adding unnecessary distractions for advanced users?
After some rapid sketching, I developed initial mockups to propose targeted design solutions for ambiguous elements within the search flow.
I handed off my mockups to the design and development teams, who iterated and tested several options in order to land on the final designs.
Our benchmarking survey showed a 5% lift in user satisfaction post-UI updates. While several factors likely contributed to this, librarians have shared that the new designs reduce the need for them to provide basic navigation support, freeing them up to focus on deeper research instruction with students.
