Preserving Fashion History in a Digital Age
Preserving Fashion History in a Digital Age
Preserving Fashion History in a Digital Age
Designing an intuitive digital archive that helps fashion students explore history with ease
Designing an intuitive digital archive that helps fashion students explore history with ease
Designing an intuitive digital archive that helps fashion students explore history with ease
Client:
Client:
Client:
Mount Mary University — Fashion Department
Mount Mary University — Fashion Department
Mount Mary University — Fashion Department
My Role:
My Role:
My Role:
UI/UX Designer
Card Sorting • Focus Group Facilitation • Wireframing
UI/UX Designer
Card Sorting • Focus Group Facilitation • Wireframing
UI/UX Designer
Card Sorting • Focus Group Facilitation • Wireframing
Team:
Team:
Team:
3 UX Designers
3 UX Designers
3 UX Designers
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 broader community, it serves as a bridge between fashion heritage and modern learning. I collaborated with a team of three UX designers redesign the archive, focusing on improving usability, visual hierarchy, and consistency to create a more accessible and engaging experience for all users.
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 broader community, it serves as a bridge between fashion heritage and modern learning. I collaborated with a team of three UX designers redesign the archive, focusing on improving usability, visual hierarchy, and consistency to create a more accessible and engaging experience for all users.
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 broader community, it serves as a bridge between fashion heritage and modern learning. I collaborated with a team of three UX designers redesign the archive, focusing on improving usability, visual hierarchy, and consistency to create a more accessible and engaging experience for all users.
The Challenges Students Face
The Challenges Students Face
The Challenges Students Face
Mount Mary fashion students need a user-friendly source of creative inspiration for their assignments. The current Digital Fashion Archive is difficult to navigate, so many students turn to platforms like Pinterest instead. This led us to ask: "How might we design a more accessible and inspiring resource for fashion students?"
Mount Mary fashion students need a user-friendly source of creative inspiration for their assignments. The current Digital Fashion Archive is difficult to navigate, so many students turn to platforms like Pinterest instead. This led us to ask: "How might we design a more accessible and inspiring resource for fashion students?"
Mount Mary fashion students need a user-friendly source of creative inspiration for their assignments. The current Digital Fashion Archive is difficult to navigate, so many students turn to platforms like Pinterest instead. This led us to ask: "How might we design a more accessible and inspiring resource for fashion students?"
Working Within Constraints
Working Within Constraints
Working Within Constraints
During our discussions with the client, we explored 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 constraints, our team worked creatively to preserve the archive's history while introducing a fresh, innovative approach.
During our discussions with the client, we explored 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 constraints, our team worked creatively to preserve the archive's history while introducing a fresh, innovative approach.
During our discussions with the client, we explored 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 constraints, our team worked creatively to preserve the archive's history while introducing a fresh, innovative approach.
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Final Prototype
Designing With History in Mind
Designing With History in Mind
Designing With History in Mind
We began by sketching wireframe concepts, with a focus on highlighting Sister Aloyse, the founder of Mount Mary's Fashion Program. While researching design references, we looked at the MET website and drew inspiration from several key elements we wanted to incorporate 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, such as "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.
We began by sketching wireframe concepts, with a focus on highlighting Sister Aloyse, the founder of Mount Mary's Fashion Program. While researching design references, we looked at the MET website and drew inspiration from several key elements we wanted to incorporate 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, such as "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.
We began by sketching wireframe concepts, with a focus on highlighting Sister Aloyse, the founder of Mount Mary's Fashion Program. While researching design references, we looked at the MET website and drew inspiration from several key elements we wanted to incorporate 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, such as "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.
Understanding Content Structure
Understanding Content Structure
Understanding Content Structure
Building on our wireframe concepts, the team facilitated a card sorting activity with the clients to understand how they categorized content within the Fashion Archive. We regrouped to discuss the reasoning behind their choices, uncover shared patterns, and synthesize the results into a board highlighting key themes to guide our design decisions.
Building on our wireframe concepts, our team facilitated a card sorting activity with the clients to understand how they categorized content within the Fashion Archive. We regrouped to discuss the reasoning behind their choices, uncover shared patterns, and synthesize the results into a board highlighting key themes to guide our design decisions.
Building on our wireframe concepts, our team facilitated a card sorting activity with the clients to understand how they categorized content within the Fashion Archive. We regrouped to discuss the reasoning behind their choices, uncover shared patterns, and synthesize the results into a board highlighting key themes to guide our design decisions.
Refining Designs Through Feedback
Refining Designs Through Feedback
Refining Designs Through Feedback
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, we received valuable feedback including clarifying terms like “women’s wardrobe,” vs. “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, we received valuable feedback including clarifying terms like “women’s wardrobe,” vs. “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, we received valuable feedback including clarifying terms like “women’s wardrobe,” vs. “view all collections,” adding a color filter to Advanced Search, and incorporating a Pinterest-inspired gallery for visual inspiration.
From Goals to Design Choices
From Goals to Design Choices
From Goals to Design Choices
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 quickly. As a team, we decided to include:
Three 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 quickly. As a team, we decided to include:
Three 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 quickly. As a team, we decided to include:
Three 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.
Bringing the Archive to Life
Bringing the Archive to Life
Bringing the Archive to Life
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 — incorporating 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, making 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, making 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, making navigation simple and efficient.
Looking Ahead
Looking Ahead
Looking Ahead
Moving forward, our next steps include 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 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 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 valuable experience designing within the constraints of the Omeka platform — a legacy system used for educational archives. I strengthened my skills in user research, information architecture, and iterative design while learning how to balance platform limitations with user needs and client goals. I also learned to delegate responsibilities and lead team members, even when it felt intimidating, which taught me how collaboration and trust can strengthen a project. This experience reinforced that thoughtful, user-centered design can transform legacy systems into engaging, meaningful experiences.
This project gave me valuable experience designing within the constraints of the Omeka platform — a legacy system used for educational archives. I strengthened my skills in user research, information architecture, and iterative design while learning how to balance platform limitations with user needs and client goals. I also learned to delegate responsibilities and lead team members, even when it felt intimidating, which taught me how collaboration and trust can strengthen a project. This experience reinforced that thoughtful, user-centered design can transform legacy systems into engaging, meaningful experiences.
This project gave me valuable experience designing within the constraints of the Omeka platform — a legacy system used for educational archives. I strengthened my skills in user research, information architecture, and iterative design while learning how to balance platform limitations with user needs and client goals. I also learned to delegate responsibilities and lead team members, even when it felt intimidating, which taught me how collaboration and trust can strengthen a project. This experience reinforced that thoughtful, user-centered design can transform legacy systems into engaging, meaningful experiences.
Other Work
Other Work
Other Work
