Omeka S by Digital Scholar
Omeka S is a robust web publishing platform developed by Digital Scholar, specifically designed for curating, managing, and showcasing digital collections. Widely used by libraries, museums, and academic institutions, it provides a flexible solution for organizations seeking to present digital assets in an organized and visually engaging manner.The platform enables users to create custom, responsive websites tailored to their specific needs. One of its key strengths is its ability to integrate resources from linked data sources, supporting semantic web technologies and promoting data interoperability. Omeka S is particularly well-suited for collaborative and multi-site projects.
Case Study
Revamping Omeka S for an Enhanced User Experience and Broader Appeal
Team
Nikhil Shetty
Radhika Balaji
Charlene Guo
Chelsea Mai
Nikhil Shetty
Radhika Balaji
Charlene Guo
Chelsea Mai
Dates
October 2024 - December 2024
October 2024 - December 2024
Tools
Figma
Google Drive
Google Sheets
Google Docs
Figma
Google Drive
Google Sheets
Google Docs
Role
UX Researcher + Interaction Designer
UX Researcher + Interaction Designer
Methodology
Our goal was to identify usability issues within Omeka S and discover opportunities to enhance its user experience.
To achieve this, we employed a user-centered approach that included moderated usability testing, iterative prototyping, and detailed analysis of user feedback.
Our goal was to identify usability issues within Omeka S and discover opportunities to enhance its user experience.
To achieve this, we employed a user-centered approach that included moderated usability testing, iterative prototyping, and detailed analysis of user feedback.
We began with a kick-off meeting with the client to:
1. Understand the primary pain points and goals for Omeka S.
2. Clarify the desired outcomes for the platform’s redesign.
3. Define success metrics for the project, such as improving user satisfaction and increasing platform adoption.
1. Understand the primary pain points and goals for Omeka S.
2. Clarify the desired outcomes for the platform’s redesign.
3. Define success metrics for the project, such as improving user satisfaction and increasing platform adoption.
We conducted a pilot session allowing us to:
1. Refine the tasks we were asking participants to complete
2. Ensure our interview questions were clear and relevant.
3. Identify and address logistical challenges, such as time allocation for each session.
1. Refine the tasks we were asking participants to complete
2. Ensure our interview questions were clear and relevant.
3. Identify and address logistical challenges, such as time allocation for each session.
During the usability sessions, participants were asked to create a custom website with a single webpage:
1. Introduction: Briefing participants on the session’s objectives and encouraging them to think aloud as they worked.
2. Tasks: Asking participants to complete specific actions: finding the button to create a new site and publishing their site.
3. Observation: Of how participants navigated the interface and noting where they encountered confusion or friction.
4. Follow-Up Questions: Asking participants to reflect on their experience and elaborate on pain points.
1. Introduction: Briefing participants on the session’s objectives and encouraging them to think aloud as they worked.
2. Tasks: Asking participants to complete specific actions: finding the button to create a new site and publishing their site.
3. Observation: Of how participants navigated the interface and noting where they encountered confusion or friction.
4. Follow-Up Questions: Asking participants to reflect on their experience and elaborate on pain points.
As we progressed, the research and design phases overlapped. After the first round of usability testing:
1. We created a prototype addressing the most critical issues identified, such as unclear navigation and overwhelming text.
2. For the second and third interviews, participants interacted with this prototype instead of the original Omeka S interface.
3. This iterative approach allowed us to test our solutions in real-time, gathering feedback on the prototype’s effectiveness.
1. We created a prototype addressing the most critical issues identified, such as unclear navigation and overwhelming text.
2. For the second and third interviews, participants interacted with this prototype instead of the original Omeka S interface.
3. This iterative approach allowed us to test our solutions in real-time, gathering feedback on the prototype’s effectiveness.
Challenges and Recommendations
Challenge 1: UI Overload
1. 80% of users found the dashboard overwhelming, with excessive text and complex navigation
2. 60% of users had a difficult time finding the “add new site” button
3. 100% of users didn’t understand the role of the “eye” icon at the top right of the webpage builder, which also lacked feedback to confirm publishing success
4. 100% of users were confused by the jargon used in website blocks
Solution 1: UI Refresh and Streamlining
1. 70% of users preferred our condensed navbar
2. 40% of users appreciated our visual thumbnails that show website previews
3. Added tutorial tooltips to guide users through tasks - favored by 50% of users
4. Added Hover Overlays that dislpayed block functions - liked by 100% of users
Challenge 2: Lack of Iterative Feedback
100% of users found the process of tapping the “view” button to check changes tedious and counterintuitive
Solution 2: Live Editing Feature
1. Introduced a live edit feature allowing users to see changes in a preview of their website in real-time
2. Added a “preview” button for this functionality. This change was universally preferred by users
Challenge 3: Inadequate Templates
100% of users felt the default themes were too limited and made creating a professional-looking site overly time-consuming
Solution 3: One-click Assistive AI for Website Generation
Designed a one-click AI assist allowing users to generate a website based on prompts and customizable elements.
All of our interviewees showed interest in quickly generating a website, and 50% were interested in our themes
Outcomes
By the end of the project, we delivered a fully interactive prototype that addressed all identified user needs. The prototype featured:
- A cleaner, more intuitive UI.
- Streamlined workflows for website creation and iteration.
- Assistive features to minimize effort while maximizing customization.
- A cleaner, more intuitive UI.
- Streamlined workflows for website creation and iteration.
- Assistive features to minimize effort while maximizing customization.
Key Learnings
- This project emphasized the value of iterative design and direct user feedback.
- Conducting moderated interviews allowed us to address real user challenges effectively.
- Prototyping during research ensured we tested solutions promptly.
- The insights gained will guide future projects, particularly when balancing user-friendliness with platform functionality.
- Conducting moderated interviews allowed us to address real user challenges effectively.
- Prototyping during research ensured we tested solutions promptly.
- The insights gained will guide future projects, particularly when balancing user-friendliness with platform functionality.
Links
Conclusion
The conclusion of our process was marked by a comprehensive prototype and a set of actionable recommendations aimed at revitalizing the Omeka S platform.
While our clients appreciated the depth and quality of our research and design work, they acknowledged that two of our final suggestions—the live edit feature and assistive AI for website generation—might be a bit ambitious given their current resources and roadmap.
However, the findings from our usability testing and the resulting design revamp validated their suspicions about the factors holding the platform back. The outdated interface, overwhelming navigation, lack of feedback mechanisms, and insufficient templates were confirmed as significant barriers to user adoption.
Our solutions directly addressed these issues, providing the clients with a clear path for incremental and impactful improvements.
While our clients appreciated the depth and quality of our research and design work, they acknowledged that two of our final suggestions—the live edit feature and assistive AI for website generation—might be a bit ambitious given their current resources and roadmap.
However, the findings from our usability testing and the resulting design revamp validated their suspicions about the factors holding the platform back. The outdated interface, overwhelming navigation, lack of feedback mechanisms, and insufficient templates were confirmed as significant barriers to user adoption.
Our solutions directly addressed these issues, providing the clients with a clear path for incremental and impactful improvements.
Client Reaction
The clients expressed enthusiasm for the overall revamp and praised our iterative approach, which ensured user needs were consistently centered throughout the project. They appreciated the detailed rationale behind our decisions and the user insights we provided, which offered them a more profound understanding of their platform’s pain points.
While the live edit feature and assistive AI tools were seen as ambitious, they sparked valuable discussions about long-term possibilities and helped the clients envision a more user-friendly future for Omeka S.
While the live edit feature and assistive AI tools were seen as ambitious, they sparked valuable discussions about long-term possibilities and helped the clients envision a more user-friendly future for Omeka S.
Next Steps / Takeaways
If I were to continue working on this project, my next steps would include:
1. Prioritizing Incremental Updates:
- Implementing immediate changes like a streamlined dashboard, visual thumbnails, hover overlays, and tutorial tooltips.
- Gradually introducing live edit features, starting with a simplified version.
2. Conducting A/B Testing:
- Testing different design elements and workflows to further refine the user experience.
3. Exploring Feasibility of AI Features:
- Collaborating with the development team to evaluate the technical and resource requirements for implementing the assistive AI tool.
4. Expanding User Testing:
- Including a broader demographic of users to ensure inclusivity and scalability.
1. Prioritizing Incremental Updates:
- Implementing immediate changes like a streamlined dashboard, visual thumbnails, hover overlays, and tutorial tooltips.
- Gradually introducing live edit features, starting with a simplified version.
2. Conducting A/B Testing:
- Testing different design elements and workflows to further refine the user experience.
3. Exploring Feasibility of AI Features:
- Collaborating with the development team to evaluate the technical and resource requirements for implementing the assistive AI tool.
4. Expanding User Testing:
- Including a broader demographic of users to ensure inclusivity and scalability.
Nikhil Shetty © 2024