Online Cenotaph
The Auckland War Memorial Museum’s Online Cenotaph is a biographical database where researchers, enthusiasts, veterans, and their families can explore, contribute to, and share the records and stories of those who served Aotearoa New Zealand. This project aims to enhance the current website to better promote the Online Cenotaph and encourage new user engagement and to further tell the stories of those who have yet to be told.
Process
Illustrator, Figma, After effects
Roles
UX, UI, Brand Identity
Team
Britt Gray, Saskia Trembath, Holly Bartlett, Harriet Eglinton
Timeline
8weeks
Mission Statement
The Online Cenotaph serves as a platform to honour and remember those who have fallen. Each year on April 25th, we commemorate the bravery of New Zealand forces during the Gallipoli Campaign. This project aims to promote the Online Cenotaph during April by enhancing its usability and transforming it into an interactive museum experience. We encourage users to share their own family hero stories, preserving these legacies for future generations.
Target Audience
Young adults aged between 20 to 35, consisting of all ethnicities and genders with family who has fought in the war.
Research
I began my research by blind testing the current Online Cenotaph to find my own grandfather, noting any issues I experienced or information that was difficult to locate. After completing this test, I designed a three-part user test where participants were asked to locate two different profiles and specific pieces of information. I then tested this on four participants.
Site mapping
To deepen my understanding of how the Online Cenotaph worked and identify the crucial information to include, I created a rough sitemap of the current website. This initial mapping allowed me to analyse and refine the existing content, leading to the development of a new and improved sitemap.
Wireframes
Wire framing was used as a way of ideation within this project helping me to better understand how I might layout information for a more tidy and readable user experience.
First Prototype
Positive feedback:
- Liked splitting the profiles into tabbed sections.
- Liked Nav layout - easy to read and always accessible.
- Like layout of second person search but needs more contrast..
Improvements:
- Nav bar for profile seems a little disconnected and childish.
- First person search feels a little off balance and bland try out the wireframe option.
- Profiles need better contrast or the information feels overwhelming.
Second prototype
Positive feedback:
- Like the new person search feels better balanced.
- Like having the contrasts between sections on the profile page.
- Like new look for profiles, feels more sleek.
Improvements:
- Colours need tweaking they just feel a little dull.
- Go back to old search results page with contrasting sections for readability.
- Do not like the green at all.
Hi Fi Prototype
After receiving user feedback and conducting additional testing, I further refined the high-fidelity prototype. Collaborating with the graphic designer, we adjusted the colour palette by swapping green for blue to improve contrast. I also added scroll bars to each profile tab for a clearer user experience and fine-tuned the final details of the website.
Interactive Museum cenotaph
After completing the website, I began reformatting the design to fit an interactive Online Cenotaph exhibit inside the museum, aiming to raise further awareness. Following user testing of my initial prototype, the feedback highlighted several areas for improvement:
- The landing page felt off balance.
- The search page seemed disconnected and lacked clear prompts for use.
- They liked that the profile page, was designed to resemble a book, but felt it was empty despite the appealing concept.
Hi Fi prototype
Following user feedback and further testing, I refined the interactive museum prototype by:
- Creating a simplified landing page with one half serving as the portal to start the user's journey.
- Restoring the main website search engine for consistency across platforms.
- Introducing animated hand instructions to help users navigate quickly.
- Implementing clear steps on each page to enhance usability./li>
- Redesigning the profile navigation to resemble a book spine, ensuring readability and intuitive navigation.
These refinements were aimed at improving user interaction and clarity throughout the Online Cenotaph exhibit in the museum setting.
The Future
In future phases, enhancing the "Lay a Poppy" experience will be a priority to engage visitors emotionally. I plan to enrich this feature with multimedia elements, aiming to make the act of laying a poppy more meaningful. Strengthening the integration of this memorial with the broader Online Cenotaph platform will amplify its impact and relevance for users.
