Client

Ecademia

Role

Product designer

Year

2023

Ecademia - Online Academic Library that accessible for all.

Unlock Limitless Learning - The world of knowledge exploration begins with a single click.

Ecademia provides unprecedented access to millions of eBooks, journals, and articles to elevate every research project and self-study endeavor.

My Role as a Product Designer

Conducted comprehensive user research and competitive analysis, along with stakeholder interviews, to shape a user-centered product strategy.
Synthesized insights into user personas and journey maps, leading to a clear problem statement that guided our design process.
Developed a robust information architecture and user flows, prioritizing intuitive navigation and efficient resource discovery to enhance meaningful user experiences.
Created low and high-fidelity wireframes, iterating through multiple usability testing cycles and incorporating stakeholder feedback.
Designed a scalable UI system that emphasizes accessibility, with responsive layouts and both light and dark modes to foster emotional connection.
Produced an interactive, high-fidelity prototype that showcases key user journeys and engaging micro-interactions.
Facilitated user testing sessions with target users, iterating on designs based on quantitative metrics and qualitative feedback to ensure our solutions resonate with users.

For the Ecademia project, I adopted an iterative, user-centered design methodology that integrated elements of design thinking, lean UX, and agile development practices.

This comprehensive approach included rigorous user research, rapid prototyping, and continuous validation to ensure alignment with both user needs and business objectives throughout the product development lifecycle.

Key Features

Intuitive Search Functions: Users can quickly find relevant materials using advanced search and filtering options.
Browse Collections: Easy access to top collections and newly added resources.
Self-Service Account Management: Users can manage their accounts, check out materials, and place holds with ease.
Document Annotation: Features for reading, highlighting, annotating documents, and saving excerpts.
Citation Management: Users can create and organize citations and bibliographies effortlessly.
Seamless Accessibility: Access from any device, anytime.
Personalized Recommendations: Suggestions tailored to individual interests and search history.
Collaborative Tools: Share documents and ideas with peers.
Integrations: Compatibility with university portals, LMS, and citation management tools.

Key Differentiators

User-Driven Curation: Resources are curated based on user demand and needs.
University Partnerships: Direct collaborations with university departments to offer customized resources.
Alerting Services: Notifications for new materials in users’ areas of interest.
Interlibrary Loan Network: Access to over 100 million books and documents.
Special Collections: Highlighting unique assets from partnering universities.

Target User Groups

Undergraduate Students
Graduate Students
Faculty & Researchers
University Staff & Administration

Revenue Streams

Institutional subscriptions.
Premium add-ons for institutions.
Usage and access fees.
Premium content such as blogs and summaries.
A unique Ecademia community for consultations and study groups, open 24/7.
"Night mode" for user comfort and well-being.
Partnerships with academic institutes, bookstores, and researchers, including advertising space for educational institutions.

Brand Adjectives

User Friendly
Modern
Relaxing
Fresh

User Research Methodology: Survey

To gain quantitative insights into user preferences and pain points, I designed and distributed an online survey to a diverse sample of 380 academics, students, and researchers.

This focused on their digital library usage patterns, research workflows, and unmet needs.

User Research Results

Key Findings

User Demographics and Engagement

Primary users: Current students and alumni.
46% report daily library service utilization.
Predominant demographic: Males, aged 18-55, with tertiary education.

Core Use Cases

Database access, classroom instruction support, research facilitation, individual and collaborative study spaces, literature acquisition, and academic assignment assistance.

Accessibility Challenges

70% express dissatisfaction with current operating hours.
46% underutilize staff assistance resources.

Digital Experience

Significant usability issues with the existing library website.
Strong demand for an enhanced digital interface, including a dedicated mobile application.
46% frequently leverage e-books for academic and professional purposes.

Areas for Improvement