Project Gutenberg

Revised Project Gutenberg

Project Overview

Project Gutenberg, one of the oldest operating digital library, holds a vast collection of free e-books in the public domain. Despite its valuable content, the website suffers from usability issues that affect user experience.

This Project aims to evaluate the usability of the website, identify pain points and propose design solutions to enhance the user experience.

Approach

I approached the project in three phases:

Understand

Ideate

Design

Reflection

Role: Research, strategy & UI/UX

Understand

Research Methods

Recruitment

Heuristic Evaluation: An Evaluation was conducted using Neilsen's 10 usability heuristics to identify potential usability issues.

(Quant) Online Survey: An online survey was conducted to gather quantitative data on user behaviors and pain points.

Guerilla Testing: A quick, informal test was conducted with potential users in the University library.

Usability Testing: Observed users as they interacted with the website and performed specific tasks.

(Quant) Questionnaires: To collect quantitative data on users standardized questionnaires like SUS, ASQ, and NPS was employed.

Card sorting : Participants were asked to sort cards representing website content into logical groups.

Follow-up User Interview: A follow up user interview was conducted to assess the effectiveness of the redesigned website.

Online surveys and Card Sorting: Recruited from personal network and Facebook groups.

Guerilla testing: Recruited through opportunistic sampling , inviting individuals at my university library to participate.

Usability Testing : Recruited through a combination of in-person outreach, online recruitment forms, and personal network.

Follow-up Interviews: For effective comparison between the original website and the proposed design, participants for usability testing and follow-up interviews were recruited from the same pool.

Target Users

Readers seeking free access to books: Individuals interested in reading a variety of books without the incurring costs.

Researchers and students: Academics and students who require access to public domain texts for research or study purposes.

Individuals with visual impairments: Users who rely on assistive technologies to access digital content.

Heuristic Analysis

The heuristic evaluation provided a preliminary understanding of the website's usability issues.

This initial assessment helped me identify areas that required further investigation through user research.

A. Visibility of System Status

Issue: Lack of clear progress indicators for downloads , especially for larger files

B. Match between system and real world

Issue: Complex navigation structure , especially for new users.

C. User Control and Freedom

Issue: Limited options for customization , such as font size and theme

D. Consistency and standards

Issue: Inconsistent visual design and layout across different pages.

E. Error prevention

Issue: Lack of error prevention mechanisms, such as input validation or clear warnings.

Key Touchpoints:

The most prevalent issues were related to Visibility of system status , Match between System and real world & Recognition rather than recall.

F. Recognition rather than recall

Issue: Complex information architecture and lack of clear visual cues.

G. Flexibility and efficiency of use

Issue: Limited keyboard shortcuts and accessibility features.

H. Aesthetic and minimalist design

Issues: Cluttered layout and excessive use of decorative elements.

I. Help recognize and recover from errors

Issue: Vague or unhelpful error messages.

J. Help and documentation

Issue: Limited and outdated documentation

Online Survey

While heuristic evaluation and cognitive walkthrough can provide valuable insights , an online survey can complement these methods by directly gathering user feedback.

By surveying users, I gain a quantitative understanding of their experiences, attitudes, and preferences.

Key insights:

Preferred Reading Platforms: Libby and Scribd are popular choices , with Project Gutenberg also being a significant platform.

Reading Frequency: A majority of respondents read books weekly or daily, indicating a strong reading habit.

Pain points: Technical difficulties, cost, internet connectivity , and device compatibility are common challenges faced by users when reading or downloading E-books.

Preferred Format: While physical books remail popular , digital formats like E-books are gaining traction.

Guerilla Testing

To gain rapid insights into user behavior and identify usability issues, i conducted guerilla testing sessions with potential users in my university library. Participants were asked to complete a specific task (finding a book on Project Gutenberg) while their interactions with the website were observed .

By analyzing their behavior and gathering quick qualitative feedback , i was able to identify 85 % of the core usability issues .

Participant 1

Key Insights

Search Functionality : The search function needs improvement to provide more accurate and relevant result.

Information Architecture: The website's information architecture is confusing and difficult to navigate.

Mobile optimization : The website's mobile version lacks a prominent search bar, hindering users's ability to efficiently find specific content.

Task: "Find a specific e-book of your liking"

Observations: Quickly navigated to the search bar , typed in the book title "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen, and found the desired book within seconds. Expressed satisfaction .

Participant 2 ( Used their Mobile Phone )

Task: "Find a book by your favorite author"

Observations: Did not find the search bar . Had to take 2 more steps to find the search bar .Showed frustration about the extra steps and the website's navigation and overall organization.

Participant 3

Task: "Find a free e-book to download"

Observations: Was surprised by the number of books and categories. Had trouble understanding the download process and file formats ( EPUB, MOBI, and HTML)

Participant 4

Task: "Find an article and research papers in the public domain"

Observations: Attempted to search for a specific research paper ( The impact of Climate change on the costal ecosystem) but was unable to get results. Subsequently, Searched for a more genera topic (Two tales of two cities by charles dickens) , and found the desired content .While the participant was satisfied with the second search result , they expressed frustration with the initial unsuccessful search.

Participant 5 (Used Mobile Phone)

Task: "Find a classic novel to read "

Observations: Struggled with finding the search function and the small font size . Had difficulty downloading , Expressed frustration with the complex download process.

Usability Testing

Key Findings

Inclusion Criteria

Over 18 years old

Regular reader of books (physical or digital)

Read and respond in English

Comfortable using Computer and Internet

Methodology

A remote usability test was conducted with five participants . Participants were asked to complete three primary tasks:

Task-1: Finding a specific book by an author

Task-2: Downloading an eBook

Task-3: Find the "About Us" Page

Participants were observed as they completed these tasks, and their thoughts and actions were recorded.

Pre-test ,Post-task & Post test questionnaires were administered to gather quantitative data on user satisfaction and ease of use .

Search Functionality: Many participants struggled to find specific books using the search function .The search results were often irrelevant or incomplete

Navigation: The website's navigation structure was confusing and difficult to understand .Users often got lost and had trouble finding specific sections.

Download process: The download process was not intuitive, with many users unsure about the different file formats and their compatibility with devices.

Accessibility: The website lacked sufficient accessibility features for users with disabilities.

Key Quotes

Participants
Performance Data

The data sheet is a detailed record of the users behavior during the usability test. It tracks task completion time, errors, non-verbal cues, and post-test feedback to identify usability issues, measure user satisfaction, and inform design improvements.

Key Insights:

Task efficiency: Participants experienced delays primarily when searching for specific books or navigating the download process.

Error rates: The majority of errors occurred during the initial task of finding a book.

User Satisfaction: Participants were generally satisfied with website's performance. However, satisfaction levels were lower for the initial search and navigation tasks.

User Journey Maps

By mapping out the user journey , I gained a deeper understanding of user experiences and identified key pain points. This holistic view informed the design process, enabling me to create a more empathetic and user-centered solution.

Key touchpoint:

By empathizing with the user's journey , i can prioritize the design improvements that address these pain points and create a more intuitive experience.

Card Sorting

Card sorting was conducted to understand how users mentally organize information and refine website's information architecture.

The exercise was conducted with 10 participants. By observing how participants categorized website content , I identified the areas for improvement and introduced new categories to enhance the overall user experience.

Key Insights:

Participants found the new, more specific categories helpful for organizing information and selecting

By incorporating these findings, we can improve the website's IA and enhance the overall user experience.

Ideation

Compiling Insights

The user research phase produces a lot of information and insights. It is important to distill these findings into a fundamental objective by:

Curating the Data: Organize and structure the collected data

Identify patterns and themes: Analyze the data to find recurring trends and insights.

Visualize the findings: Create visual representation to facilitate understanding and communication.

Develop a design vision: Use the insights to formulate a clear and fundamental objective

Key touchpoints:

After compiling all the insights and findings, the recurring patterns in the user research are: Complex Navigation, Ineffective search functionality, poor accessibility, sub-optimal mobile design.

Recurring Patterns

Complex Navigation:

How can we simplify the website's navigation?

Heuristic evaluation- Recognition rather than recall, Issues with complex navigation.

Usability test-

"I like the idea of free E-books, but the website is a bit confusing to navigate"

"I would probably get lost trying to find a book or something"

Ineffective Search functionality:

How can we enhance the search interface to make it more user-friendly?

Heuristic evaluation- User control and freedom , Lack of advanced search option.

Guerilla testing- Participant #4 , User found the search function to be ineffective.

Usability test- "The search results doesn't seem to be accurate"

"The search function is a bit weird"

Poor Accessibility :

What steps can we take to improve website's accessibility for users with visual impairments?

Heuristic Evaluation- User control and freedom, Lack of advanced search option.

Usability test- "The screen reader doesn't work properly "

"The contrast between text and background is poor"

Sub-Optimal Mobile design:

How can we ensure a consistent and seamless transition across different screen sizes?

Heuristic evaluation- Flexibility and efficiency of use , poor adaptability to mobile interfaces.

Guerilla testing - Participant #2 & 5 , Users struggled to find the search bar.

Design Vision

A user-centric, accessible digital library with simple navigation, search , and mobile experience.

Key touchpoint:

Created a design vision to provide clear direction and inspiration , It helped me to align the efforts and ensure that the final product meets the needs of the users.

User Persona

Based on the conducted research, i developed a Primary user persona to represent the typical user of the Project Gutenberg website.

Adam: The Avid reader

Adam is a 30 year old librarian working at a local public library. He's passionate about literature and spends a significant amount of his free time reading. To access a wider range of books and to support digital literacy , he frequently uses Project Gutenberg.

Key touchpoints:

Created a user persona based on research insights to represent the typical user of the Project Gutenberg website, including their goals, behaviors, and pain points.

Demographics

Age: 30

Location: Chicago

Occupation: Librarian

Tech savviness: Intermediate

Never Uses the website

Occasionally uses the website

Frequently uses the website

Goals

Easy -to-use search functionality with accurate results.

Clear and intuitive navigation

Well-organized book categories and collections.

Accessible formats for users with disabilities , such as screen reader compatibility and adjustable font sizes.

Faster loading times and optimized performance for various devices.

Pain Points

Difficulty finding specific books, especially some specific titles or older works.

Inefficient search functionality, often leading to irrelevant results.

Lack of clear categorization and organization of books

Inconsistent formatting and layout across different eBooks.

Limited accessibility features for users with visual impairments.

Slow loading times, especially for large eBooks.

Design

Proposed Design solutions

Based on the User research findings and brainstorming, the following design solutions are recommended to improve the Project Gutenberg's website's user experience:

Enhance Navigation:

Simplify Information Architecture: Reduce the number of steps it takes to search or browse for books.

Clear and Consistent Labeling: Use clear and consistent labels for navigation elements.

Breadcrumbs: Implement a clear breadcrumb trail to help users understand their current location.

Visual Hierarchy : Use visual cues like font size , color, and spacing to guide user's attention.

Key Touchpoints:

Enhance navigation: Simplify IA ,improve labeling and implement breadcrumbs.

Improve search functionality: Implement advanced search options and autocomplete suggestions.

Enhanced Accessibility: Ensure screen reader compatibility, sufficient color contrast, and keyboard navigation.

Optimized Mobile Experience :Develop a responsive design and prioritize touch interactions.

Ensure Accessibility:

Screen Reader Compatibility: Ensure the website is fully compatible with screen readers and other assistive technologies.

Color Contrast: Use sufficient color contrast between text and background to improve readability.

Keyboard Navigation: Implement Keyboard navigation for all interactive elements.

Alternative text: Provide alternative text for images and other non-text content.

Improve Search Functionality :

Advanced Search Options: Allow users to filter results by author, genre, language or publication date close to the actual search bar.

Autocomplete Suggestions: Provide suggestions as users type to improve search accuracy.

Enhanced Search Algorithm: Implement a more sophisticated search algorithm to provide more accurate and relevant results.

Sub-Optimal Mobile Design:

Responsive Design: Ensure the website adapts seamlessly to different screen sizes.

Touch-Friendly Interface: Design intuitive touch interactions for mobile devices.

To validate the effectiveness of these proposed solutions, further user testing was necessary.

Collaborative Wireframes

Collaborative design is very crucial to any design. The project felt too narrow of a perspective , so i collaborated with a fellow Ux designer intern.

The Session consisted of a lot of input from her which helped me realize the final prototype for the website. And integrating such insights from a team member is one of the most essential part of any design.

Key Touchpoints:

Based on the insights from user research, multiple wireframes were developed and refined to address identified pain points in collaboration with a fellow designer.

Kavya Srinivas

Yashas Mohana

High fidelity Prototype

High-fidelity prototype provides a realistic representation of the final product, enabling stakeholders to assess visual appeal, functionality, and overall user experience before development.

Key touch points :

Developed high-fidelity prototypes for both web and mobile platforms to visualize the final user experience.

The website's layout is horizontally divided into two sections: a real-time activity feed on the left to maintain user engagement, and the primary content area on the right.

Vertically, the website features a top navigation bar, a prominent search bar, and category/genre selection options.

A light background scheme is used to emphasize the visual appeal of book covers and other design elements

A personalized recommendation band across the page suggests books based on the user's reading history and preferences.

Book Details Page:

A detailed book information panel is displayed upon clicking a book, providing essential details such as author, synopsis, and related works.

To streamline the user journey, key actions like reading online, adding to Wishlist, or downloading are prominently featured, eliminating unnecessary steps.

Personalized Reading Experience:

A personalized "My Books" section was created to allow users to manage their reading lists and track their progress.

Prototype Annotation Image

Mobile Wireframes:

Given the Ubiquity of smartphones, Mobile design is essential for any user experience to ensure that users can access and interact with the website seamlessly, regardless of the device they're using.

A simplified , intuitive interface was designed for mobile devices, featuring a streamlined home screen with limited book previews and essential navigation buttons

a bottom navigation bar was added for quick access to core features like Home, Search, Book word , and Profile.

Additionally, A hamburger menu was implemented for secondary navigation options.

The search function was integrated into the bottom navigation bar and can be expanded into an advanced search mode.

The profile section provides a centralized hub for user specific functions, including book history, contributions, Wishlist.

Follow-up User Interview

To evaluate the effectiveness of the design changes, a follow-up user interview was conducted with the original participants from the usability test.

By comparing their experiences before and after the redesign, i aimed to identify any remaining usability issues and measure the overall improvement in user experience.

Recruitment:

Three participants were recruited from the same pool as the original study from the usability test.

Methodology:

The test was conducted remotely with three of the five participants. Participants were asked to evaluate the high-fidelity design and give their opinions on its usability and design.

Key findings:

Improved Visual Design: Participants appreciated the cleaner and more modern design, with a particular emphasis on the book covers and overall layout.

Enhanced search functionality: The new search bar was well-received , with users noting its improved accuracy and relevance.

Personalized Features: The personalized recommendation feature was a popular addition, providing a tailored reading experience.

Improved Mobile experience: The redesigned mobile version was praised for its ease of use and intuitive navigation.

Clearer information Architecture: The reorganized information architecture was seen as more logical and easier to navigate.

Key Quotes

Reflection

Lessons Learned

Collaboration is key : Involving others in the design process leads to more diverse perspectives and improved outcomes. Collaborating with another designer gave me so many insights that helped me to visualize my prototype .

Ask for help : I realized that its okay to be wrong about certain decisions we make sometimes and its absolutely okay to ask for help. I feel that's how we grow as a designer , empathetic researcher or as a human.

Iterative design :Iterative design is a game changer . I used to think that once i had the design , it was done. But I've realized that the best designs are the ones that are constantly evolving.

Embrace Feedback : Embracing feedback is crucial . I see it as a valuable opportunity to improve my work. It helps me identify areas where i can grow and develop as a designer.

Embracing new challenges: I used to stick to what i knew , but i learned that the most rewarding experiences come from stepping outside my comfort zone.