Type of Presentation
Individual paper/presentation
Conference Strand
Critical Literacy
Target Audience
Higher Education
Second Target Audience
Other
Public Librarianship
Location
Ogeechee Theatre
Relevance
This proposal will introduce how user experience design/user interface design and heuristic analysis can be used to improve discoverability of documentation and training materials. Based on a case study with a state-based library consortium, attendees will learn how other professions can contribute to effective information retrieval.
Proposal
This presentation will draw on a case study in which a recent graduate of a user experience design (UXD) program was able to apply UXD principles and research practices to increase the discoverability of training materials used by a library consortium. The case study presented will demonstrate to educators and students the importance of learning how UX laws can inform best practices for development, assessment, and iteration of digital spaces. Attendees will learn how laws/heuristics drawn from UXD play a critical role in ensuring that resources are accessible, intuitive, and engaging.
Our case study centers on how a library consortium addressed the challenge of poor discoverability and accessibility of training materials used by consortium members. The training materials—ranging from technical services, open strategies, and systems documentation to resource sharing and application toolkits—were essential to library operations but difficult for staff to locate. This difficulty led to a constant stream of support requests, slowing down workflows and making it harder for library staff to fully engage with the content.
This case study will present how the Laws of UX (Paradox of the Active User, Pareto Principle, and others) served to inform how the research model was developed. Our study will demonstrate to attendees how discoverability problems for the training materials could have been addressed earlier and more easily via the consideration of UX Laws. This study frames the importance of incorporating UXD for success when developing a website/application.
Additionally, our case study underscores the importance of learning/applying user experience design principles as a vital competency for educators and students. We make the case that UXD and its principles are a core complement towards enhancing information literacy.
Short Description
Learn how User Experience (UX) Design Analysis can increase findability, reduce inquiries, and make your users happy. Our case study will show you how.
Keywords
user experience design, findability, discoverability, user research, website content management
Publication Type and Release Option
Presentation (Open Access)
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Recommended Citation
Palmer, Laura A. and Eckert, Tyler M., "Enhancing Engagement with UX/UI Design: How the Laws of UX inform Information Literacy" (2025). Georgia International Conference on Information Literacy. 9.
https://digitalcommons.georgiasouthern.edu/gaintlit/2025/2025/9
Enhancing Engagement with UX/UI Design: How the Laws of UX inform Information Literacy
Ogeechee Theatre
This presentation will draw on a case study in which a recent graduate of a user experience design (UXD) program was able to apply UXD principles and research practices to increase the discoverability of training materials used by a library consortium. The case study presented will demonstrate to educators and students the importance of learning how UX laws can inform best practices for development, assessment, and iteration of digital spaces. Attendees will learn how laws/heuristics drawn from UXD play a critical role in ensuring that resources are accessible, intuitive, and engaging.
Our case study centers on how a library consortium addressed the challenge of poor discoverability and accessibility of training materials used by consortium members. The training materials—ranging from technical services, open strategies, and systems documentation to resource sharing and application toolkits—were essential to library operations but difficult for staff to locate. This difficulty led to a constant stream of support requests, slowing down workflows and making it harder for library staff to fully engage with the content.
This case study will present how the Laws of UX (Paradox of the Active User, Pareto Principle, and others) served to inform how the research model was developed. Our study will demonstrate to attendees how discoverability problems for the training materials could have been addressed earlier and more easily via the consideration of UX Laws. This study frames the importance of incorporating UXD for success when developing a website/application.
Additionally, our case study underscores the importance of learning/applying user experience design principles as a vital competency for educators and students. We make the case that UXD and its principles are a core complement towards enhancing information literacy.
