Cromaine Library | Landing page redesign
Lowered homepage drop-off rates and delivered a faster, more focused experience through simplified navigation and easier access to key resources.
PROJECT & TIMELINE
Client: Cromaine District Library
Jan 2022 - Apr 2022
MY ROLE
UX designer
Collaborating with: library staff as clients and 4 UX designers
MY CONTRIBUTION
User Research
Heuristic Evaluation
Information Architecture
UX Design
Design system
BACKGROUND & PROBLEM
Who we designed for?
Our client Cromaine District Library is a public library located in Michigan. Its website serves as a primary gateway for local residents to access various resources, services, and events provided by the library.
When finding information becomes a frustration
The library’s homepage suffered from an 82.17% bounce rate, signaling that most visitors were leaving the site without finding what they needed.
After our initial meeting with the client, we examined the website together and conducted a preliminary heuristic evaluation on the homepage as first-time users.
Inconsistent layout and terminology created a chaotic experience
Deep, layered page hierarchy made it difficult for users to quickly access information or take action.
DICOVER
Understanding user needs and priorities
To gain a better understanding of our target audience, we decided to conduct a preliminary interview with the library staff and residents. We hoped to get a clear view of which changes would be most effective for the users.
Our goals of these interviews were to :
1. Gather users' impressions of the website.
2. Identify the top tasks that users typically perform on the website.
The overwhelming amount of information—especially within the menu—left users unsure where to start.
Unclear labels and disorganized menu structure made it hard for users to predict what content each section contained.
Outdated visual designs failed to capture user interest.
“We get a ton of calls from residents asking about the library's opening hours, upcoming events, and borrowing library supplies, etc. We definitely had all the information available on our website, but it seems like it's become a bit of a maze.”
In order to better understand and anticipate the needs of users and provide relevant information at each step, we analyzed the usage data of the site. This helped us identify which content should be displayed more prominently.
Top tasks that users perform on the website:
1. Check Event Calendar
2. Browse Magazines & Newspaper collection
3. Reserve a Room
4. Look up Monthly Newsletter
DESIGN
This project gave me hands-on experience across the full design cycle—from uncovering user pain points through research to refining solutions through iteration. I also worked closely with stakeholders to navigate constraints and align on priorities, here are my key takeaways:
