OVERVIEW
Redesigning the Dublin City Library app
As an avid reader and regular library user, I became increasingly frustrated with the outdated Dublin City Council Library app.
PROJECT
Dublin City Library App
TIMELINE
2 months
FORMAT
Mobile App
ROLE
UI Designer, UX Researcher
THE PROBLEM
An outdated design that lacks vital features
Currently, the Dublin City Council Library app lacks vital features that a modern library needs, like being able to download and use ebooks and audiobooks. For these functions, library members need to download and sign-up to an entirely separate app, Borrowbox.
In addition to this, some functions of the app, like checking out a book at your local library branch, are very unintuitive.
THE SOLUTION
A complete overhaul
I decided to completely redesign the Dublin City library app, introducing some key features and quality-of-life improvements to improve library member’s experience. My primary goals were to:
UX RESEARCH
The Steps of Borrowing an Audiobook
I created both low-fidelity and medium-fidelity task flows and user flows, exploring:
The onboarding process;
A few different ways in which the user could borrow and then listen to an audiobook;
The steps needed to then return a book once they’re finished.
DESIGN PROCESS
Homescreen
The original library homescreen immediately overwhelmed the user with it’s bright blue-on-blue design.
The new home page features include:
A quick summary at the top of the page, displaying how many books, audiobooks and ebooks you can currently loan.
A simple CTA button to allow you to check out a book using the self-service machines while at the library.
The users current books on loan are displayed, so that they can easily renew or return.
DESIGN PROCESS
Book Detail Screen
This screen gives the user more information on a library book. As a page with a lot of text and detail, it was important to keep the design simple and clean, using clear headings, a limited colour palette and lots of space between the different sections.
DESIGN PROCESS
Audiobook Player Screen
This screen allows a library member to play an audiobook that they’ve borrowed from the library. It was very important to me to include this feature in the re-design, as currently a library member needs to download a separate app, Borrowbox, to gain access to the library’s digital audiobooks.
CONCLUSION
A modern library experience
The new Dublin City Library app re-design has really enhanced the member’s library experience. They can now use one app to both physically borrow a book from their local library and download ebooks and audiobooks to their phone. This is greatly improved from the previous experience of having to use two separate apps for these simple functions
The interface has been updated and modernised, creating a simple and clear design that people of all ages can use. Library members can now easily discover new books and quickly check the status of their current loans.
I’ve loved working on this project, and look forward to developing the app further, making it available on desktop and tablet, and also creating a Light mode.
