Digital Fashion Archive
Digital Fashion Archive
Digital Fashion Archive
Redesigning a User-Centered Platform for Exploring and Preserving Fashion History
Redesigning a User-Centered Platform for Exploring and Preserving Fashion History
Redesigning a User-Centered Platform for Exploring and Preserving Fashion History
Clients:
Clients:
Clients:
• Daniel Vinson (Library Specialist)
• Donna Ricco (MMU Fashion Dept Executive Fellow)
• Ashley Brooks (MMU Fashion Instructor)
• Daniel Vinson (Library Specialist)
• Donna Ricco (MMU Fashion Dept Executive Fellow)
• Ashley Brooks (MMU Fashion Instructor)
• Daniel Vinson (Library Specialist)
• Donna Ricco (MMU Fashion Dept Executive Fellow)
• Ashley Brooks (MMU Fashion Instructor)
My Role:
My Role:
My Role:
UI Designer
UI Designer
UI Designer
Team:
Team:
Team:
• Winla Vang
• Elizabeth Boney
• Malaika Powell
• Winla Vang
• Elizabeth Boney
• Malaika Powell
• Winla Vang
• Elizabeth Boney
• Malaika Powell
Duration:
Duration:
Duration:
September 2023-October 2023
September 2023-October 2023
September 2023-October 2023
Project Overview
Project Overview
Project Overview
The Mount Mary Digital Fashion Archive is a web platform that showcases the university's historic fashion collection through 360° garment imaging. Designed to support education and spark creativity among students, researchers, and the community, it serves as a bridge between fashion heritage and modern learning. I collaborated with a team of four to redesign the archive, focusing on improving usability, visual hierarchy, and consistency to create a more accessible and engaging experience for all users.
The Problem
The Problem
Mount Mary fashion students need a user-friendly source of creative inspiration for their assignments. Because the current Digital Fashion Archive is difficult to navigate, many turn to platforms like Pinterest instead. This challenge led us to ask: "How might we design a more accessible and inspiring resources for fashion students?"
Mount Mary fashion students need a user-friendly source of creative inspiration for their assignments. Because the current Digital Fashion Archive is difficult to navigate, many turn to platforms like Pinterest instead. This challenge led us to ask: "How might we design a more accessible and inspiring resources for fashion students?"
Challenges
Challenges
Challenges
During our discussions with the client, we explored Omeka Classic—an open-source web publishing platform used for educators and projects. While testing the platform, we identified several limitations that required thoughtful design decisions. Despite these challenges, our team worked creatively within the platform's constraints to preserve the archive's history while introducing a fresh, innovative approach.
During our discussions with the client, we explored Omeka Classic—an open-source web publishing platform used for educators and projects. While testing the platform, we identified several limitations that required thoughtful design decisions. Despite these challenges, our team worked creatively within the platform's constraints to preserve the archive's history while introducing a fresh, innovative approach.
During our discussions with the client, we explored Omeka Classic—an open-source web publishing platform used for educators and projects. While testing the platform, we identified several limitations that required thoughtful design decisions. Despite these challenges, our team worked creatively within the platform's constraints to preserve the archive's history while introducing a fresh, innovative approach.
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Design Process
Design Process
Design Process
Our team was split into two groups, and when Winla and I began sketching wireframe concepts, I wanted to highlight Sister Aloyse, the founder of Mount Mary's Fashion Program. While researching design references, we looked at the MET website and were inspired by a few key elements we wanted to bring into our redesign:
Organizational structure: we liked how the MET organized its content and wanted to apply a similar structure to help students navigate information more easily.
Balanced content and accessibility: we aimed to strike a balance between rich, comprehensive content and user-friendly interface that invites exploration.
To preserve the program's history and make the archive more engaging, we added interactive features, including "Curator Pick of the Month" and "Fast Fashion Facts." These elements make learning about the program's heritage a more interactive and inspiring experience for students.
Our team was split into two groups, and when Winla and I began sketching wireframe concepts, I wanted to highlight Sister Aloyse, the founder of Mount Mary's Fashion Program. While researching design references, we looked at the MET website and were inspired by a few key elements we wanted to bring into our redesign:
Organizational structure: we liked how the MET organized its content and wanted to apply a similar structure to help students navigate information more easily.
Balanced content and accessibility: we aimed to strike a balance between rich, comprehensive content and user-friendly interface that invites exploration.
To preserve the program's history and make the archive more engaging, we added interactive features, including "Curator Pick of the Month" and "Fast Fashion Facts." These elements make learning about the program's heritage a more interactive and inspiring experience for students.
Our team was split into two groups, and when Winla and I began sketching wireframe concepts, I wanted to highlight Sister Aloyse, the founder of Mount Mary's Fashion Program. While researching design references, we looked at the MET website and were inspired by a few key elements we wanted to bring into our redesign:
Organizational structure: we liked how the MET organized its content and wanted to apply a similar structure to help students navigate information more easily.
Balanced content and accessibility: we aimed to strike a balance between rich, comprehensive content and user-friendly interface that invites exploration.
To preserve the program's history and make the archive more engaging, we added interactive features, including "Curator Pick of the Month" and "Fast Fashion Facts." These elements make learning about the program's heritage a more interactive and inspiring experience for students.
Building the Narrative: Grouping Information
Building the Narrative: Grouping Information
Building the Narrative: Grouping Information
Building on the wireframe concepts that Winla and I created, our team facilitated a card sorting activity with clients — Dan, Donna, and Ashley — to better understand how they categorized content within the Fashion Archive. I guided Donna through the activity in FigJam, walking her through each card and category. After 15 minutes, we regrouped to discuss the reasoning and uncover shared patterns. From there, we synthesized the results into a board that highlighted key themes to guide our design decisions.
Building on the wireframe concepts that Winla and I created, our team facilitated a card sorting activity with clients — Dan, Donna, and Ashley — to better understand how they categorized content within the Fashion Archive. I guided Donna through the activity in FigJam, walking her through each card and category. After 15 minutes, we regrouped to discuss the reasoning and uncover shared patterns. From there, we synthesized the results into a board that highlighted key themes to guide our design decisions.
Building on the wireframe concepts that Winla and I created, our team facilitated a card sorting activity with clients — Dan, Donna, and Ashley — to better understand how they categorized content within the Fashion Archive. I guided Donna through the activity in FigJam, walking her through each card and category. After 15 minutes, we regrouped to discuss the reasoning and uncover shared patterns. From there, we synthesized the results into a board that highlighted key themes to guide our design decisions.
Client Presentation and Student Insights
Client Presentation and Student Insights
Client Presentation and Student Insights
When presenting our concepts to the client, we aimed to celebrate Mount Mary’s history by featuring influential figures like Sister Aloyse and Bonnie Cashin. Our goal was to create an organized, engaging experience that reflected key features from competitive solutions while addressing the specific needs of fashion students searching for garments.
During the student focus groups that Elizabeth and I led, we received valuable feedback such as clarifying terms like “women’s wardrobe,” differentiating it from “view all collections,” adding a color filter to Advanced Search, and incorporating a Pinterest-inspired gallery for visual inspiration.
When presenting our concepts to the client, we aimed to celebrate Mount Mary’s history by featuring influential figures like Sister Aloyse and Bonnie Cashin. Our goal was to create an organized, engaging experience that reflected key features from competitive solutions while addressing the specific needs of fashion students searching for garments.
During the student focus groups that Elizabeth and I led, we received valuable feedback such as clarifying terms like “women’s wardrobe,” differentiating it from “view all collections,” adding a color filter to Advanced Search, and incorporating a Pinterest-inspired gallery for visual inspiration.
When presenting our concepts to the client, we aimed to celebrate Mount Mary’s history by featuring influential figures like Sister Aloyse and Bonnie Cashin. Our goal was to create an organized, engaging experience that reflected key features from competitive solutions while addressing the specific needs of fashion students searching for garments.
During the student focus groups that Elizabeth and I led, we received valuable feedback such as clarifying terms like “women’s wardrobe,” differentiating it from “view all collections,” adding a color filter to Advanced Search, and incorporating a Pinterest-inspired gallery for visual inspiration.
Aligning Goals with Design Decisions
Aligning Goals with Design Decisions
Aligning Goals with Design Decisions
We structured the navigation using Miller’s Law, keeping it simple and easy to follow, with no more than seven main tabs to reduce mental load and help users find what they need faster. As a team, we decided to include:
Three separate sections highlighting the history of the Fashion Archive and Mount Mary's Fashion Program.
An advanced search and filter feature so users can easily explore garments or accessories by time period, color, textile, or designer/brand.
We structured the navigation using Miller’s Law, keeping it simple and easy to follow, with no more than seven main tabs to reduce mental load and help users find what they need faster. As a team, we decided to include:
Three separate sections highlighting the history of the Fashion Archive and Mount Mary's Fashion Program.
An advanced search and filter feature so users can easily explore garments or accessories by time period, color, textile, or designer/brand.
We structured the navigation using Miller’s Law, keeping it simple and easy to follow, with no more than seven main tabs to reduce mental load and help users find what they need faster. As a team, we decided to include:
Three separate sections highlighting the history of the Fashion Archive and Mount Mary's Fashion Program.
An advanced search and filter feature so users can easily explore garments or accessories by time period, color, textile, or designer/brand.
Final Design
Final Design
Our first prototype focused on meaningful features that enhance usability and engagement. Based on client and student feedback, we designed two high-fidelity wireframes that reflected Mount Mary’s branding — using its colors, fonts, and overall tone — while introducing a bold carousel to showcase the Fashion Archive highlights and dedicated sections for the program and its history.
We also included key additions like the CREO Fashion Show, digital resources, 360° View Instructions, and Haggerty Library access to enrich the overall experience. On the collections page, we introduced an intuitive search filter by team period, designer or brand, textiles, color, and item type, along with helpful resources and an inquiry form to make navigation simple and efficient.
Our first prototype focused on meaningful features that enhance usability and engagement. Based on client and student feedback, we designed two high-fidelity wireframes that reflected Mount Mary’s branding — using its colors, fonts, and overall tone — while introducing a bold carousel to showcase the Fashion Archive highlights and dedicated sections for the program and its history.
We also included key additions like the CREO Fashion Show, digital resources, 360° View Instructions, and Haggerty Library access to enrich the overall experience. On the collections page, we introduced an intuitive search filter by team period, designer or brand, textiles, color, and item type, along with helpful resources and an inquiry form to make navigation simple and efficient.
Our first prototype focused on meaningful features that enhance usability and engagement. Based on client and student feedback, we designed two high-fidelity wireframes that reflected Mount Mary’s branding — using its colors, fonts, and overall tone — while introducing a bold carousel to showcase the Fashion Archive highlights and dedicated sections for the program and its history.
We also included key additions like the CREO Fashion Show, digital resources, 360° View Instructions, and Haggerty Library access to enrich the overall experience. On the collections page, we introduced an intuitive search filter by team period, designer or brand, textiles, color, and item type, along with helpful resources and an inquiry form to make navigation simple and efficient.
Next Steps
Next Steps
Next Steps
Moving forward, our next steps include several key updates, such as reorganizing the side navigation and continuing user research through focus groups and surveys to measure the impact of these changes. A larger challenge ahead will be reformatting the layout and developing a custom advanced search feature for the collections page to make exploration even more seamless.
Moving forward, our next steps include a few key updates, like reorganizing the side navigation and continuing user research through focus groups and surveys to measure the impact of these changes. A larger challenge ahead will be reformatting the layout and developing a custom advanced search feature for the collections page to make exploration even more seamless.
Reflection
Reflection
Reflection
This project gave me meaningful experience designing within the constraints of the Omeka platform — an important skill when designing for a client within an existing system. Our goal was to create a concept that feels both engaging and intuitive, allowing students to explore the Fashion Archive with ease while finding inspiration for their own creative work.
I’m excited to see these updates come to life in Omeka and to watch fashion students use the archive as a resource for learning and creativity. Fashion Design is a core part of Mount Mary University’s legacy, and I hope this platform continues to celebrate and preserve that tradition for years to come.
This project gave me meaningful experience designing within the constraints of the Omeka platform — an important skill when designing for a client within an existing system. Our goal was to create a concept that feels both engaging and intuitive, allowing students to explore the Fashion Archive with ease while finding inspiration for their own creative work.
I’m excited to see these updates come to life in Omeka and to watch fashion students use the archive as a resource for learning and creativity. Fashion Design is a core part of Mount Mary University’s legacy, and I hope this platform continues to celebrate and preserve that tradition for years to come.
Other Work
Other Work
