Project

Dimenna-Nyselius Library Site Redesign

Fairfield University’s DiMenna-Nyselius Library website is a key resource for students and faculty, but accessibility barriers and navigation challenges made it difficult to use. As a UX assistant collaborating with the library’s Web & Technology Lead, I worked to identify usability issues, organize stakeholder feedback, and redesign key pages to improve clarity, accessibility, and functionality.

Info

Role

UX Design and Research Assistant

Design Timeline

3+ months

Project Type

UX Redesign & Strategy

Problem

Fairfield University’s Dimenna-Nyselius Library website serves 350,000+ visitors annually, but its design struggled to meet the needs of students, faculty, and staff. After conducting research, key usability issues emerged.

Research & Insights

  • Accessibility Audit —> dentified contrast issues and screen-reader barriers, highlighting areas for immediate improvement.

  • UX Café Discussions —> Observed students navigating the site, uncovering pain points in key features like Quick Links and Course Reserves.

  • Affinity Mapping —> Synthesized 50+ pieces of staff feedback to identify recurring issues in site structure and accessibility.

  • Crazy 8’s Exercise —> Analyzed rapid sketches to understand layout preferences.

  • Card Sorting (Qualtrics) —> Used data to optimize site navigation.

Below are key artifacts from my research process, showcasing findings from each method:

From these research methods, three major themes emerged that directly informed my design decisions:

Ideation & Design

Early Concepts & Sketches

Using the key insights from my research, I began sketching out potential solutions. My goal was to address navigation challenges, improve accessibility, and simplify the homepage layout. To generate ideas quickly, I used hand-drawn wireframes before refining them further.

Key Takeaways

  • Users needed a cleaner quick links section.

  • Certain underutilized features needed better visibility.

  • The homepage required a more intuitive structure.

Wireframing & Prototyping

I began by translating my early sketches into low-fidelity wireframes. These initial wireframes helped visualize the layout and establish the foundation for the homepage design. Below are two early variations I explored.

Low-Fidelity wireframes of potential new Homepage designs:

After evaluating feedback and narrowing down the design direction, I created a mid-fidelity wireframe. Next to it is a second iteration where I refined the layout, hierarchy, and structure while providing more clarity on the user flow.

I’m currently in the process of finalizing the next iteration, which will include all content and design elements in place. This version is under review by the library’s web committee and may undergo further iterations based on their feedback.

Reflection

This project marked my first opportunity to apply UX design principles in a real-world setting, and it was undoubtedly one of my most rewarding experiences. I was given the creative freedom to design multiple wireframes, all informed by research insights, which helped me see firsthand how design decisions can impact users and meet their needs!

The process was sometimes challenging, as I often questioned if I was doing things the "right" way or following the "correct" process. However, I quickly learned that UX design is all about embracing feedback, iterating, and being flexible to change. I am excited to see my designs make it onto the live website, as it’s still under review by the web committee.

Key takeaways:

  • Embracing feedback and iteration is central to creating user-centered designs.

  • Balancing creative freedom with user insights was both challenging and rewarding.

  • The process taught me to trust my design decisions, even when uncertain, knowing that iteration is always possible.

To understand user frustrations and opportunities for improvement, I leveraged multiple research methods.