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Design thinking in the library space: Problem-solving signage like a graphic designer

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 July 2020

Dania Jalees
Dania Jalees*
Affiliation:
MA Library & Information Studies, University College London, Qatar Foundation, Doha, [email protected]
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Abstract

Librarians and graphic designers have a lot in common. Both are information professionals that offer means or cues to help users navigate, understand and solve a problem within a certain space. Without the librarian, the library space itself becomes the interface where users are offered signage to problem-solve intuitively. Because of this, effective communication via signage and wayfinding becomes imperative to the library user experience. By empathizing with our patrons and clearly articulating what the problem is, it is possible to anticipate user needs, address them by utilizing the design-thinking process, and prototype solutions like a graphic designer. However, this is not a permanent, one-time process, and it will need to be repeated whenever the needs of the patrons evolve and new problems emerge.

Type
Research Article
Information
Art Libraries Journal , Volume 45 , Issue 3 , July 2020 , pp. 114 - 121
Copyright
Copyright © ARLIS, 2020

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