Website Refresh for
150-year-old library

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Redesigning Hawai‘i Public Library Website

Visual Design (UI), Web Development

Overview

This project aims to create a more accessible and user-friendly platform for library users. The history of the Hawai‘i State Public Library System (HSPL) is deeply intertwined with the broader educational and cultural development of Hawaii‘i. Its origins date back to 1879 with the establishment of the Honolulu Library and Reading Room, which was supported both financially and physically by Hawaii‘ii’s royalty, King Kalākaua, Queen Kapii‘olani, Queen Emma, and Princess Bernice Pauahi Bishop.

The primary goal of this project is to design a user-centered website that provides intuitive access to essential resources and services, including event calendars and library information. The library’s mission is to promote literacy, lifelong learning, and community engagement—but is its website effectively supporting this mission?

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Early sketch of word map for this project, showing the effort to layout his life journey and his major works.

Challenge

The current website (as of June 2024) suffers from a fundamental issue: a complex and overwhelming information architecture. While it makes sense for a statewide library system to contain vast amounts of information, the site currently lacks a user-centric perspective.

The current website (as of June 2024) suffers from a fundamental issue: a complex and overwhelming information architecture. While it makes sense for a statewide library system to contain vast amounts of information, the site currently lacks a user-centric perspective. Key challenges include:

  • Poor visual hierarchy, which makes the navigation difficult.
  • Ineffective graphics that distract rather than enhance communication.
  • Limited identity representation, failing to highlight the library’s role as an educational, cultural, and community hub.

The Question;

The library‘s mission is to promote literacy, lifelong learning, and community engagement—but is its website effectively supporting this mission?
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Solution

To address these issues, I defined the key objectives if the redesign:

  • Create a user-centered platform that simplifies access to library services.
  • Ensure easy and intuitive navigation to accommodate a wide range of users.
  • Align the website with the library‘s mission of promoting literacy, lifelong learning, and community engagement.
  • Foster a welcoming and inclusive website for all users.
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Solution

To address these issues, I defined the key objectives of the redesign:

  • Create a user-centered platform that simplifies access to library services.
  • Ensure easy and intuitive navigation to accommodate a wide range of users.
  • Align the website with the library‘s mission of promoting literacy, lifelong learning, and community engagement.
  • Foster a welcoming and inclusive website for all users.

User Demographic and User Personas

Because this project was built around user needs, it was essential to define the audience. I conducted conversations with potential users to understand their priorities. The most common questions they had were:

  • Which branch can I visit?
  • How can I get a library card?
  • What services does the library offer?

Based on these insights, I developed three user personas to guide the design process. This approach helped refine the website’s structure, ensuring that the platform not only supports library services but also aligns wit the real needs of its users.

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