Digital Fashion Archive
Digital Fashion Archive
Designing the Future of Fashion History
Designing the Future of Fashion History
My Role:
My Role:
My Role:
UI Designer
UI Designer
UI Designer
Duration:
Duration:
Duration:
September 2023-October 2023
September 2023-October 2023
September 2023-October 2023
Team:
Team:
Team:
Winla Vang
Elizabeth Boney
Malaika Powell
Winla Vang
Elizabeth Boney
Malaika Powell
Winla Vang
Elizabeth Boney
Malaika Powell
Project Overview
Project Overview
Project Overview
I worked in a team of 4 to redesign the Mount Mary Digital Fashion Archive, which is a digital resource to support education and artistic inspiration for perspective and current Mount Mary students and the community.
I worked in a team of 4 to redesign the Mount Mary Digital Fashion Archive, which is a digital resource to support education and artistic inspiration for perspective and current Mount Mary students and the community.
I worked in a team of 4 to redesign the Mount Mary Digital Fashion Archive, which is a digital resource to support education and artistic inspiration for perspective and current Mount Mary students and the community.
The Problem
Mount Mary Fashion Students:
Need a user-friendly source of creative inspiration for their assignments.
Struggle to navigate the Mount Mary University Digital Fashion Archive, leading them to rely on other sites, such as Pinterest.
Mount Mary Fashion Students:
Need a user-friendly source of creative inspiration for their assignments.
Struggle to navigate the Mount Mary University Digital Fashion Archive, leading them to rely on other sites, such as Pinterest.
Mount Mary Fashion Students:
Need a user-friendly source of creative inspiration for their assignments.
Struggle to navigate the Mount Mary University Digital Fashion Archive, leading them to rely on other sites, such as Pinterest.
How might we create a resource for these students?
Challenges
Challenges
Challenges
During our discussions with the client, we explored to Omeka Classic—an open-source web publishing platform for educators and projects. While testing it, we identified constraints that needed careful consideration. Despite these challenges, our team designed within these constraints, preserving history while crafting a fresh, innovative approach.
During our discussions with the client, we explored to Omeka Classic—an open-source web publishing platform for educators and projects. While testing it, we identified constraints that needed careful consideration. Despite these challenges, our team designed within these constraints, preserving history while crafting a fresh, innovative approach.
During our discussions with the client, we explored to Omeka Classic—an open-source web publishing platform for educators and projects. While testing it, we identified constraints that needed careful consideration. Despite these challenges, our team designed within these constraints, preserving history while crafting a fresh, innovative approach.
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Defining the Vision
Defining the Vision
Defining the Vision
Our team was split into two. When Winla and I came up with some wireframe concepts, I wanted to highlight Sister Aloyse because she was the person who started the Fashion Program. When we looked at the MET website, we liked the:
Organizational structure, and wanted to incorporate something similar.
This strategic design aims to facilitate student navigation through information.
Striking a balance between comprehensive content and user-friendly accessibility.
To preserve the rich history of the Fashion Program, we incorporated elements that would elevate the archive's engagement and intuitiveness such as 'Curator Pick of the Month' and 'Fast Fashion Facts,' to captivate students’ interests, and learning more about the program becomes an interactive and enriching experience.
Our team was split into two. When Winla and I came up with some wireframe concepts, I wanted to highlight Sister Aloyse because she was the person who started the Fashion Program. When we looked at the MET website, we liked the:
Organizational structure, and wanted to incorporate something similar.
This strategic design aims to facilitate student navigation through information.
Striking a balance between comprehensive content and user-friendly accessibility.
To preserve the rich history of the Fashion Program, we incorporated elements that would elevate the archive's engagement and intuitiveness such as 'Curator Pick of the Month' and 'Fast Fashion Facts,' to captivate students’ interests, and learning more about the program becomes an interactive and enriching experience.
Our team was split into two. When Winla and I came up with some wireframe concepts, I wanted to highlight Sister Aloyse because she was the person who started the Fashion Program. When we looked at the MET website, we liked the:
Organizational structure, and wanted to incorporate something similar.
This strategic design aims to facilitate student navigation through information.
Striking a balance between comprehensive content and user-friendly accessibility.
To preserve the rich history of the Fashion Program, we incorporated elements that would elevate the archive's engagement and intuitiveness such as 'Curator Pick of the Month' and 'Fast Fashion Facts,' to captivate students’ interests, and learning more about the program becomes an interactive and enriching experience.
Building the Narrative: Grouping Information
Building the Narrative: Grouping Information
Building the Narrative: Grouping Information
Using the wireframe concepts that Winla and I developed, our team facilitated a card sorting activity in with clients Dan, Donna, and Ashley to understand their categorization preferences for the Fashion Archive. I guided Donna through each card and category in FigJam, and after 15 minutes, we regrouped to discuss the rationale behind each placement. After the card sorting activity, we created a board highlighting common themes and patterns to inform our design approach.
Using the wireframe concepts that Winla and I developed, our team facilitated a card sorting activity in with clients Dan, Donna, and Ashley to understand their categorization preferences for the Fashion Archive. I guided Donna through each card and category in FigJam, and after 15 minutes, we regrouped to discuss the rationale behind each placement. After the card sorting activity, we created a board highlighting common themes and patterns to inform our design approach.
Using the wireframe concepts that Winla and I developed, our team facilitated a card sorting activity in with clients Dan, Donna, and Ashley to understand their categorization preferences for the Fashion Archive. I guided Donna through each card and category in FigJam, and after 15 minutes, we regrouped to discuss the rationale behind each placement. After the card sorting activity, we created a board highlighting common themes and patterns to inform our design approach.
Key Moments
Key Moments
Key Moments
When presenting our concepts to the client, we wanted to include influential figures like Sister Aloyse and Bonnie Cashin to honor Mount Mary’s history and showcase organized and engaging content that highlighted key features from competitive solutions while catering to fashion students’ unique garment searches.
In the student focus groups that Elizabeth and I lead, feedback included clarifying terms like “women’s wardrobe,” differentiating “women’s wardrobe” from “view all collections.” adding a color filter to Advanced Search, and incorporating a Pinterest-inspired gallery.
When presenting our concepts to the client, we wanted to include influential figures like Sister Aloyse and Bonnie Cashin to honor Mount Mary’s history and showcase organized and engaging content that highlighted key features from competitive solutions while catering to fashion students’ unique garment searches.
In the student focus groups that Elizabeth and I lead, feedback included clarifying terms like “women’s wardrobe,” differentiating “women’s wardrobe” from “view all collections.” adding a color filter to Advanced Search, and incorporating a Pinterest-inspired gallery.
When presenting our concepts to the client, we wanted to include influential figures like Sister Aloyse and Bonnie Cashin to honor Mount Mary’s history and showcase organized and engaging content that highlighted key features from competitive solutions while catering to fashion students’ unique garment searches.
In the student focus groups that Elizabeth and I lead, feedback included clarifying terms like “women’s wardrobe,” differentiating “women’s wardrobe” from “view all collections.” adding a color filter to Advanced Search, and incorporating a Pinterest-inspired gallery.
Aligning Goals with Design Decisions
Aligning Goals with Design Decisions
Aligning Goals with Design Decisions
We followed the simple and nested navigation using Miller’s Law, which is a principle that allows no more than seven tabs to ease users’ mental load, so that they’re not overwhelmed with a lot of information. As a group, we decided to incorporate:
Three separate sections dedicated to the history of the Fashion Archive and the Mount Mary Fashion Program.
Implementing the advanced search and filter for users to be able to find garments/accessories for a specific time period, color, textiles, as well as designer/brand.
We followed the simple and nested navigation using Miller’s Law, which is a principle that allows no more than seven tabs to ease users’ mental load, so that they’re not overwhelmed with a lot of information. As a group, we decided to incorporate:
Three separate sections dedicated to the history of the Fashion Archive and the Mount Mary Fashion Program.
Implementing the advanced search and filter for users to be able to find garments/accessories for a specific time period, color, textiles, as well as designer/brand.
We followed the simple and nested navigation using Miller’s Law, which is a principle that allows no more than seven tabs to ease users’ mental load, so that they’re not overwhelmed with a lot of information. As a group, we decided to incorporate:
Three separate sections dedicated to the history of the Fashion Archive and the Mount Mary Fashion Program.
Implementing the advanced search and filter for users to be able to find garments/accessories for a specific time period, color, textiles, as well as designer/brand.
The Final Chapter: Unveiling the Design
The Final Chapter: Unveiling the Design
Our first prototype focused on impactful features to enhance the user experience. Using the client and student feedback, we created two high-fidelity wireframes incorporating Mount Mary’s colors, fonts, and branding, with a prominent carousel for the Fashion Archive highlights and engaging columns on the fashion program and history.
We added the CREO Fashion Show, digital resources, 360° View Instructions, and Haggerty Library access. On the collections page, we implemented a search filter by time period, designer/brand, textiles, color, and item type, with resources and an inquiry form for streamlined navigation.
Our first prototype focused on impactful features to enhance the user experience. Using the client and student feedback, we created two high-fidelity wireframes incorporating Mount Mary’s colors, fonts, and branding, with a prominent carousel for the Fashion Archive highlights and engaging columns on the fashion program and history.
We added the CREO Fashion Show, digital resources, 360° View Instructions, and Haggerty Library access. On the collections page, we implemented a search filter by time period, designer/brand, textiles, color, and item type, with resources and an inquiry form for streamlined navigation.
Our first prototype focused on impactful features to enhance the user experience. Using the client and student feedback, we created two high-fidelity wireframes incorporating Mount Mary’s colors, fonts, and branding, with a prominent carousel for the Fashion Archive highlights and engaging columns on the fashion program and history.
We added the CREO Fashion Show, digital resources, 360° View Instructions, and Haggerty Library access. On the collections page, we implemented a search filter by time period, designer/brand, textiles, color, and item type, with resources and an inquiry form for streamlined navigation.
Next Steps
Next Steps
Next Steps
Moving forward, the next steps involve straightforward adjustments such as:
Reorganizing the side navigation and ongoing user research.
Implementing focus groups and surveys, as it will help gauge the impact and success of these changes. However, a more complex task lies ahead in the form of reformatting the layout and developing a custom advanced search feature for the collections page.
Moving forward, the next steps involve straightforward adjustments such as:
Reorganizing the side navigation and ongoing user research.
Implementing focus groups and surveys, as it will help gauge the impact and success of these changes. However, a more complex task lies ahead in the form of reformatting the layout and developing a custom advanced search feature for the collections page.
Moving forward, the next steps involve straightforward adjustments such as:
Reorganizing the side navigation and ongoing user research.
Implementing focus groups and surveys, as it will help gauge the impact and success of these changes. However, a more complex task lies ahead in the form of reformatting the layout and developing a custom advanced search feature for the collections page.
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
With this project, I gained valuable experience in navigating the constraints of the Omeka platform, essential when designing for a client within an existing framework. The primary objective was to devise a concept that is both engaging and user-friendly, enabling students to access the Fashion Archive seamlessly for educational and artistic inspiration.
I am excited to see these updates come to life in Omeka, and watch fashion students use it as an inspiring resource. Fashion Design is a core part of Mount Mary University’s legacy, and I hope this platform continues to uphold and celebrate that tradition for years to come.
With this project, I gained valuable experience in navigating the constraints of the Omeka platform, essential when designing for a client within an existing framework. The primary objective was to devise a concept that is both engaging and user-friendly, enabling students to access the Fashion Archive seamlessly for educational and artistic inspiration.
I am excited to see these updates come to life in Omeka, and watch fashion students use it as an inspiring resource. Fashion Design is a core part of Mount Mary University’s legacy, and I hope this platform continues to uphold and celebrate that tradition for years to come.
With this project, I gained valuable experience in navigating the constraints of the Omeka platform, essential when designing for a client within an existing framework. The primary objective was to devise a concept that is both engaging and user-friendly, enabling students to access the Fashion Archive seamlessly for educational and artistic inspiration.
I am excited to see these updates come to life in Omeka, and watch fashion students use it as an inspiring resource. Fashion Design is a core part of Mount Mary University’s legacy, and I hope this platform continues to uphold and celebrate that tradition for years to come.
Other Work
Other Work
