Saginaw Public Library
The Saginaw Public Library (SPL) serves the city of Saginaw, Texas. The mission of this project was to observe and address user pain points to provide a better library experience. A refined user experience meant solidifying SPL’s brand identity, creating a consistent wayfinding system, and designing an intuitive catalog interface.
Industry
Education
Type
Non-commercial
Services
Brand Identity
UX/UI
Environmental Design
Real People. Real Problems.
To get a full scope of existing user problems, I discussed with patrons about their personal experiences. Over 1 week, I interviewed 5 patrons asking questions like: What areas of the library do you use the most, and what has been your experience? How long did it take to find an item using the catalog system? What is your experience checking out and returning items? If you could improve one area, what would it be? I used these in-person interviews combined with my initial research to create personas with specific goals and challenges that highlighted the user’s pain points.
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“My eyesight is going bad, so I would love to have bigger and brighter signs with each section clearly labeled so I can find my movies and books faster.”
Celia (69 y/o)
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“The catalog can be confusing. It uses abbreviations I don’t understand. Also, the book naming doesn’t always match the shelves.”
Riley (7 y/o)
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“The library is noisy as there are kids running around in the shared spaces. I am sometimes unable to find seating as there are only three study rooms.”
Amanda (28 y/o)
Crafting a Proposition
Based on my research, interviews, and observations, I found several issues that make the user experience less than optimal. SPL’s branding was not only outdated but inconsistent across print and digital interfaces. Wayfinding especially suffered from this inconsistency. The catalog system, which patrons use to locate books, is the library website which uses unexplained tags. Finally, users complain of noise and seating weekly. My proposal includes a revamped brand identity with interactive wayfinding, a dedicated catalog system, and a revised 2-floor layout to separate high traffic from quiet areas. I began by creating a logo that set the foundation for a comprehensive identity system. Saginaw is known for its “Train & Grain” heritage due to its railroads and flour mills. The new logo pays homage to this. I optimized the logo to perform across various platforms and scales.
Welcoming The Community
The Saginaw Public Library is family-friendly, and I wanted to keep its identity warm. I selected a humanist sans serif to create a contemporary but friendly appeal. A vibrant color scheme also boosts Saginaw’s vivacious personality. Pictograms and patterns made from the logomark enhance the brand identity and can be used across multiple platforms.
SPL’s collateral will not only enhance brand recognition but will be a great way for patrons to start often-dreaded small talk. Love mystery thrillers? Show it off on your library card! How about hot pink? There’s a card for you! New library cards will also be compact to easily fit into pockets and wallets. Likewise, bookmarks will showcase genre interests and quotes from popular authors. Library staff can also individualize their ID cards by selecting a preferred pattern and color combo.
A Step in the Right Direction
The new wayfinding system will be fun and interactive as it uses a color-coded wall map and navigation trails to lead patrons to their destination. Signage will play off the primary wall map and feature icons alongside the room or section label. Bookshelves, shelf dividers, and book tags will also use this color-coded system for consistency and visual recall. This colorful system with be engaging, especially for the little kids who are some of SPL’s regular visitors.
Look It Up!
The refined catalog system will be a free-standing touchscreen kiosk in each section with an interface dedicated to SPL’s resources. Section color-coding, shelf location and numbers, genre icons, and call numbers will be included making it easy to locate items. The revamped interface will also show when books are on the shelf, how many copies are available, and the waitlist for each title.
