Native Mobile App
Easily access library materials on mobile devices with WorldCat Find.
Platform
iOS and Android
OCLC, Inc
Product Designer
Impact
Q4 2022 Launch on iOS & Google Play Store.
Improved process for browsing alternative formats, saving time.
Designed initial UI elements to bring Advanced Search feature to mobile devices.
Removed roadblocks between user search and local libraries' website.
Screenshot of WorldCat Find Mobile App
What is WorldCat Find?
Screenshot of WorldCat.Org
WorldCat Find is the front-end user experience that allows
users to search & find information about books, articles, and other materials held by libraries.
It can help users locate libraries in their area that have the materials they need.
Business Goals
OCLC's main goal with WorldCat is to connect users with library materials at their local libraries. This can happen in two ways: inter-library loans and checking out library materials.
Leadership prioritized this project because the pre-responsive web era website did not work well on modern devices.
My focus was getting the app ready for its Oct 2022 alpha launch. Specifically, I was involved in defining the MVP and designing the screens for project.
Unlocking User Insights
The data available from previous user research conducted in 2017 was insufficient for our needs.
Verification of baseline assumptions, like majority of our users were librarians or institutions, led to updated insights which were then used during the design process to tailor the app further.
The primary users of WorldCat Find are professors, library staff and students. They use the system for research, sourcing niche content, and acquring library materials through checkout or inter-library loans.
124,118
Active Users
117,161 users being non-librarian
*Active between Feb 1, 2021 - Nov 17, 2021
1821
Accounts
With active lists* containing more than 20 items.
*Users could save lists of library material items for future needs.
01. NON-FICTION FOCUS
Vast majority of users reported using WorldCat.org primarily to search non-fiction.
02. INTER-LIBRARY LOAN
Users regularly use inter-library loan (ILL) and will leverage WorldCat.org to find the bibliographic information to help create that fulfillment request.
03. NICHE AND RARE
Majority users reported using WorldCat.org to find rare and niche material.
04. HOLDINGS INFO
Users reported using the ILL feature to improve their own library holdings information and not necessarily order anything.
User Problems
The desktop responsive website had recently launched.
I convinced the product owner to use it during subsequent user interviews.
The goal was to use it as the base design for the mobile app.
User interviews featuring demonstrations of the responsive site revealed critical behaviors and pain points for the mobile app.
Below are three examples of those user problems that I designed for.
01. Searching for Formats and Editions
When searching for a specific format or edition, users would often re-initiate an new search instead of returning to the Formats and Editions list.
This is akin to starting a new Google search for the same search terms rather than just simply using the back button.
I suggested the problem was in part that the app wasn't communicating visually when a user was browsing sub-records.
I designed a new header section to indicate to user when they are browsing alternative formats or viewing a specific edition/format for a given search result.
Browsing Editions Lo-Fi Mockup
In addition, a secondary goal was to bring visual harmony to the app.
I wasn’t the first UX designer on the project. Some views had a header bar, some views did not and this inconsistency should be resolved.
Browsing Editions Hi-Fi Mockup using UI team's mobile design system
I experimented with alternative colors as well.
Browsing Editions Header Color Hierarchy
When users would select an item from the Formats and Editions list, the header would remain but change to "Viewing" as opposed to "Browsing".
02. Unclear Inter-Library Loan Verbiage
In the app, there is copy to explain how many copies of the searched item are at however many library locations within your area.
For example, 23 libraries have 5 copies of a specific edition each.
This could be misinterpreted as 5 different editions are available at these 23 libraries.
Further there is no indication of format (hard cover, audio book, etc).
Ancient Mockup
The original mockup passed to me by the previous UX designer on the project.
New Lo-Fi
My mockup using a monochrome lo-fi version of the design system.
Note the addition of language in the verbiage.
03. Advanced Search
In both the legacy site and the responsive site, users have the ability to build advanced queries for searching.
This feature needed to be migrated to the mobile app.
Using the design system provided by the UI team and the responsive site's layout as a reference, I designed basic components and created mock layouts.
Outcome
The WorldCat Find beta launched for mobile devices on the iOS Store and Google Play store in Q4 2022.
It would later have its official launch in Feb 2023.
What went well?
My design mindset was to pursue an MVP utilizing the responsive site as a base.
This positively impacted the timeframe to creating wireframes/mockups so more time could be spent brainstorming or reviewing user interviews.
What could have gone better?
I could have better explained why working holistically is productive and how it leads to better results.
This was my first senior role, and I was not yet used to the authority/leadership that comes with it.
Tasks were siloed because of my inaction.
Any questions about how a current task would impact future or previous were tabled. This resulted in double work when a future task impacted previous work and required re-designs.
Case Studies
Easily access library materials on mobile devices with WorldCat Find.
Impact :Collaborated with product management and engineering to scope, drive alignment, design and launch iOS and Android app in 8 weeks.