From Global to Local - User Centred Design at Cambridge :: Sue Mehrer, University of Cambridge

User Centred Design at CambridgeSue MehrerDeputy Librarian, Cambridge University Library

Cambridge University Library

Cambridge University Library

Faculty of Education Library

Parker Library, Corpus Christi College

Digital Collegelibrary

Faculty / departmentlibrary

MainUniversity Library

Approach and methodology

Rather than uncovering fundamental truths the aim is to uncover latent needs, mental models and observe our participants’ behaviour.

Our quest to uncover latent needs led us to conduct a programme of in-depth ethnographic design research using a combination of diary studies, shadowing and contextual interviews.

Design research provides inspiration and insight to a creative process from which ideas emerge and are honed into design concepts.

DisciplineLocation Time of year Activity

Academic personas

Research

Ideas and concept creation

Appd: The University of Cambridge App store

The App store: a collection of Apps submitted by members of the Library and Academic community, but curated by an editorial team. Would include both commercially available and bespoke Cambridge apps. The contents of this page could be tweaked depending on the time of year and what is most useful - for example during exam times, the apps would be tailored around revision and time management.

The page could also include:

Popular Apps

Staff Picks, including a review by members of the editorial team, explaining what is good about the app

New Apps, newly submitted apps that have been approved.

Stacked: The Cambridge Libraries app

CURA: Cambridge University Research Archive

Physical spaces

FlexiSpaces

Digital Detox Zones

Any practical application to date?

Organisational touchpoints

University

External funding organisations

Publishing houses

Online repositories & archives

External organisations

What’s next?

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