The Design Cycle and a Mixed Methods Approach for Improving Usability: A Case Study

Abstract

This case study explores the concept of the design cycle as a guiding principle for choosing usability methods. It discusses the stages of the design cycle alongside the strengths and weaknesses of usability methods commonly used in libraries. Hollins University applied the design cycle principles to the redesign of the library’s website, which involved various methods (e.g. analytics, card sorting, content audit, surveys, and usability testing). This article argues that using the design cycle encourages an effective practice of mixing different usability methods, which leads to a more informed approach to improving usability. It concludes with recommendations for application of the design cycle to library projects.