responsive approaches: redesigning websites for duke, ncsu & unc libraries

Responsive approaches: Redesigning websites for Duke, NCSU & UNC Libraries

Emily Daly, Head of Assessment & User Experience, Duke University Libraries

Charlie Morris, User Experience Development Librarian, NCSU Libraries

Kim Vassiliadis, Head of User Experience, UNC Libraries

TRLN Annual Meeting | July 23, 2014

By the numbers

DUKE NCSU UNC

CMS Drupal Drupal WordPress

Timeframe Oct 12 - Jan 13 Nov 13 - May 14 Oct 12 - Aug 13

Consultants In-house + 1 content editor

In-house In-house

Content Editors 70+ 84 70+

# of Pages 910 (down from 4000+ pages)

1,617 nodes 360 (down from 30,000+ pages)

Responsive Update:

Scoped for Design

Before

What our needs were

● Responsive Web Design● Flat design● User interface templates○ brand

Minimalist approach

● not a redesign● phased approach is okay● “Getting Real”

see http://gettingreal.37signals.com

Minimize disruption

boiling a frog

Addressing content

● address content in later phase● content inventory to keep

track of all pages and apps in terms of design

Desktop

Mobile

Some other bits

● Moved to git and GitHub● Implemented Capistrano v3 for fail-safe

deployments● Wrote our own Drupal theme for

Foundation 5● Actively soliciting feedback now● Kept bits of the old m.lib site that made

sense

Next

● Structuring content● Workflows● Updating remaining “classic” interfaces ● Information architecture

UNC Intro slide here!

Website Redesign:

From the Ground Up

● 30,000 manually coded files● No real content oversight● Organizational focused, not user focused

Why a Redesign?

RIP1998 - 2013

From This...

To This!

Goal 1: DiscoveryUsers know where to start to conduct research or find information about the libraries and they are able to successfully find the research materials or information they need.

Goal 2: AccessUsers can easily access library materials, including books, journals, articles, DVDs, Special Collections, and digital collections.

* Access to Branches as open/available physical locations

Goal 3: ServicesUsers can easily find information about library resources, services and expertise available.

Goal 4: BrandingUsers view the Libraries as knowledgeable, reliable, helpful, consistent, welcoming, professional, and approachable

Goal 5: Device neutralityUsers can interact with the website on whatever device they use

User-Centered Website Goals

Worked with ALL content owners

Content Inventory

● Wish List● Usability

User Feedback

Since Launch

Future Plans

● Content Audits● User Testing● Constant Care & Feeding

Website Overhaul:

A collaborative endeavor

Why redesign?

Project tenets

● User-centered

● Collaborative

● Transparent

● Iterative

● In-house

● Grounded in research, strategy & planning

Vision & Values

Research, research, research

●

Information Architecture

Credit: Murray Thompson

Time for content

Launch!

Assess, refine, repeat

What’s ahead

Thanks for listening!

Emily Daly, emily.daly@duke.edu

Charlie Morris, cdmorris@ncsu.edu

Kim Vassiliadis, kimv@email.unc.edu