Reseach and design outputs
This Arcadia project created a number of project outputs, at various stages. The main deliverable is a design of a web application which helps students save time finding and exploring relevant reading materials (scientific publications, books etc..) for their assignments. This is expressed as a set of design wireframes, which visually defines how such a system might work. The system aims to provide the following benefits:
For Students:
- Easily add reading data into the system
(copy and paste easy) - Automatically do the boring legwork around reading lists, saving considerable time
(batch process reading lists automatically, getting library and other information about items) - Share and democratically rate information
(one click expressing of opinions, to help surface valuable and relevant reading materials) - Get personal recommendations, and encourage serendipitous content discovery
(find new and relevant reading materials for your studies) - Connect with people who can help you progress
(think sub-borrowing, or finding people who read similar materials) - Turn your activity into tangible benefits
(how about getting tangible benefits for using the system, like real print credit) - In your pocket everywhere
(information could be accessible on a desktop browser, or on a mobile phone, so you’ll never have to write classmarks on your hand again ;)
For Libraries:
- Rich real time usage and intent data to feed acquisitions and product design
(usage data would help libraries make better acquisitions based on real needs, and reduce book shortages) - Dynamic borrowing times
(in the future the system could advise dynamic borrowing times based on demand) - Scheduling for fair usage of scarce resources
(in the future the system would be able to schedule fair access to scarce resources based on real needs)
Video presentation of research and design
User research and design artefacts
As secondary deliverables, the project produced a high volume of user research data, reports and supporting materials showing how did the project used user feedback and incorporated the user research data into the design.
Click on the links below to download the specific artefact
User Research
Interview notes
A set of anonymised notes from interview participants created from the audio recordings
Focus group artefacts
Activity artefacts, notes, and pictures of the organised and thematised notes on the project wall, all anonymised
Diary study data
Cleaned up visual representation of the diary study input in an anonymised format
Online survey data and charts
Anonymised online survey results and corresponding charts
Technology list
A list of technologies which were seen or mentioned during the research phase (Note: this is not a comprehensive list of academic reading related applications or tools, only what has been seen or mentioned during this project)
Design
Examples of ideation sketches
A set of hand drawn sketches which were used to create ideas to solve specific design problems, surfaced from the user research.
Users - Library services alignement diagram
A visual representation of connections between library services and real life user activities, both before and after deploying the proposed solution
System map, services and features
An overview of system components, servies and features for the proposed system
Final design wireframes
Visual blueprint of the proposed web application which offers solutions to problems which the user research uncovered. Note: this document does not contain visual design.
Presentation exhibition pictures
All artefacts were presented to project stakeholders. These pictures show the mini exhibition created for this occasion, and an organised view of all artefacts
General project documents
Project plan and description
A visual representation of the overall project plan
Final project report
An aggregated project report, describing the whole project on a high level and including an executive summary
