A research-driven redesign that transforms MSU’s digital display into an intuitive, accessible experience.

MSU students walked by the library's digital display every day without understanding it functioned as an interactive screen. Students thought it was just a poster. The widespread lack of understanding about the display's interactive nature led to complete failure during the first round of testing. The MainMSU interface redesign aimed to make interactions clear while providing easy navigation and accessibility features which transformed an unused screen into a functional student tool.

Project Type: MSU Library Interface Redesign

Role: Experience Researcher & Designer — led research-driven redesign

Duration: January 2023 - May 2023

Tools: Figma

Introduction

Students walked past the digital display in MSU’s Main Library every day — but few ever touched it. Most assumed it was just a static poster. One student even said, "I thought this was just a poster," before walking away. That moment stuck with us. If students didn’t even know the kiosk was interactive, how could it possibly serve its purpose? design features, and streamlined content to enhance usability and guide behavior more effectively.

I led the redesign of the MainMSU interface to solve this problem. Our goal was to turn a forgotten screen into a helpful, accessible touchpoint for students navigating campus life.

Research

To understand where things were going wrong, we used a layered research approach:

Heuristic Evaluation

Reviewed the existing kiosk using usability heuristics (visibility, affordance, consistency)
Discovered the interface lacked any cues to suggest interactivity

Competitive Analysis

Benchmarked kiosks from other MSU buildings (Broad, Law Library)
Identified clear prompts and streamlined menus as best practices

User Interviews

Conducted on-site interviews with 3 users (2 students, 1 visitor)
Observed task attempts such as finding library hours or directions
All participants failed to progress beyond the first screen

Insights

Three key findings shaped the redesign:

Perceived as Non-Interactive: No visual affordances led users to treat it like a poster
Navigation Confusion: Users couldn’t access more than one location or task
Accessibility Gaps: No audio or contrast tools for users with different needs

Design Principles

These insights informed our guiding principles:

Make Interactivity Obvious: Use prompts, idle animations, and touch cues
Provide Guided Navigation: Simplify paths using a tappable map and back/home structure
Design for Inclusivity: Implement contrast modes, scalable text, and audio narration

How might we design the Main Library display so that it clearly signals interactivity and helps every visitor find what they need without confusion?

Design Process

Iteration 1: Wireframes

Created low-fidelity layouts (Map, Hours, News)
Users still didn’t engage — validated need for interaction cues

Iteration 2: Interactive Prototype

Added “Touch Here to Begin” banner and idle animations
Introduced tappable map and navigation flows
Testing showed increased engagement and deeper interaction

Iteration 3: Accessibility Refinement

Added high-contrast toggle, audio narration, larger fonts
Removed distractions like social icons
Final prototype was clear, focused, and inclusive

Results

Our final solution is expected to:

Boost Engagement: Clear affordances prompt interaction
Improve Task Success: Simple navigation supports fast task completion
Increase Accessibility: Audio and visual options serve diverse users

Reflection & Next Steps

Lessons Learned:

Start prototyping sooner — fast feedback avoids wasted work
Small details (like a “Touch Here” label) have outsized impact
Regular user feedback shaped every stage of this redesign

This project reminded me that great UX isn't just about design — it's about reducing friction, guiding behavior, and making sure users know when (and how) to interact.