Participatory interface redesign in an academic library: a UX and co-creation experience

Abstract

The Library System of the Pontificia Universidad Católica Argentina faces the challenge of redesigning its digital ecosystem under an innovation paradigm. Traditionally, academic library interfaces have been structured according to an internal organizational logic; however, this project draws on an evidence-based diagnosis that revealed minimal average user interaction time, demanding an extremely efficient information architecture. Through metric analysis and a user survey, a gap was identified between technical library science terminology and users' actual search needs. These findings drove the adoption of a human-centered design (UX) methodology, which encompassed user research, benchmarking of reference institutions, user persona modeling, information architecture redesign, and a plain language writing strategy. The resulting prototype was evaluated through usability testing and successive iterations, and also incorporated a participatory redesign stage via an open design competition. The findings suggest that applying UX methodologies in academic libraries can improve the usability of digital services and strengthen the relationship between the institution and its community.