Zine @ Pratt Library
Optimizing Pratt library zine research guide for better browsing experience
My Role
Over 6 weeks, our team of three UX researchers redesigned the Pratt Libraries Zine Research Guide to improve how students and researchers discover zines. Through remote, task-based usability testing with 6 participants, we uncovered issues with content clarity, search functionality, and layout consistency.
Team
3 UX Designers/Researchers (including me)
Research Method
Moderated Usability Testing
Discipline
Product Design, UX Design
Platform
Website
Time Frame
6 Weeks
Overview
Zines are small, self-published booklets that often highlight niche, creative, or underrepresented voices. The Pratt Libraries Zine Research Guide was designed to help users explore this unique collection online. While visually engaging, the team lacked clarity on how users actually navigated the site and whether key features—like search, subject categories, and the Browse Random page—were effective.
Our project aim to:
Understand what users look for when browsing the Zine Research Guide, including their motivations and browsing preferences.
Evaluate how well current features—like homepage layout, subject categories, and Browse Random—support zine discovery.
Identify design opportunities to improve layout, navigation, and overall usability based on user needs.
Timeline
We kicked off the project with a meeting alongside the Pratt Library Zine team to align on target users, research objectives, and overall scope. Over the course of six weeks, I was responsible for recruiting participants, setting up the test sessions, and moderating 2 out of 6 total interviews. I also contributed to analyzing the data, identifying key usability issues, and drafting actionable recommendations based on our findings.
Tasks
Our test was set up with tasks and questions in line with our research objectives
Understand users’ needs and expectations
Can you walk me through the last time you browsed or engaged with zines (in any context)?
Think back to your experience with zines—whether reading, collecting, or creating them. What usually draws you to a zine, and how do you prefer to browse them (by topic, author, or at random)?
Evaluate how well current features did
You want to explore zines without a specific topic in mind. Try using the Browse Random feature. Is it easy to find? Tell me how you feel about it for discovering something new?
You're working on a class project about activism. Use the subject categories to browse relevant zines. Can you find what you're looking for?
Pick any zine that interests you and view its detail page. Without clicking on anything else, tell us what do you think each element on the page represents.
Identify design opportunities
Rate your overall experience from 1–10. What worked well? What felt confusing or frustrating?
What would you add or improve on the research guide that could improve your experience?
*These are only a portion of the questions from our research. For the complete set, please refer to the full report.
Research
Now that we had defined our goals, it was time to bring in participants for usability testing.
We sent out a screener survey across Pratt Institute and received 20 responses. From these, we selected 6 students who reported being at least somewhat familiar with zines.
Demographic Details
📚 4 Library & Information Science major: insights on usability, metadata, and research tools
🎨 2 Design — one from Communication Design, one from Industrial Design, feedback on layout & visual hierarchy
🎓 Mix of grad & undergrad — balanced views on academic vs. casual use
Testing
We conducted 6 moderated usability tests with target users. Each participant was guided through task scenarios while thinking aloud.
We analyzed findings using a task-by-task framework, mapping where users struggled and how often issues occurred. This helped us uncover recurring patterns, which we then synthesized into five key themes that shaped our recommendations.
What works well
Users loved the browse random page
The long scroll of zine covers without specific subject filters gave users a sense of discovery—similar to browsing in real life.
Users found the “What is a Zine” section helpful
Participants appreciated the introductory section, especially those unfamiliar with zines. It helped them quickly understand the purpose of the guide.
Cover images play a major role in user selection
Most users said they were more likely to explore a zine if the cover image looked interesting or visually appealing.
What can be improved
Content Gaps & Visual Design Hindered User Understanding
Users frequently missed or misunderstood key information due to unclear messaging, lack of context, and inconsistent visual design.
Inconsistent & Unreliable Search Experience
Users had difficulty locating and using the search functionality due to inconsistent placement, vague results, and hidden advanced features.
Fragmented & Confusing Browse Random Experience
Despite being one of the most engaging features, the Browse Random section suffered from poor visibility, confusing navigation, and a disjointed layout that disrupted user flow.
Findings & Recommendations
Finding #1
Most users frequently encountered content gaps and a lack of visual context that made it difficult to navigate and understand the Zine Research Guide
“It wasn’t clear that these are physical zines”
“The ‘How can I learn more about Zines?’ section is confusing. What is PrattCat, and why is it mentioned?”
"I’d like to learn more about each zine, not just see the cover image on the homepage."
Recommendation #1
We recommended redesigning the layout and improving the content copy to provide clearer context and help users better understand what they’re looking at.
Redesigned category list to improve clarity and accessibility, removing unnecessary abbreviations and adding tooltips for longer terms.
Finding #2
Participants didn’t make use of the advanced search features because they were hidden and hard to access.
After initiating a search, users failed to notice the "Modify Search" button that unlocks advanced keyword filtering. As a result, all participants relied on the default homepage search bar, which only supports basic keyword searches.
This limited their ability to filter by subject or metadata. When users searched for topics like “activism,” results appeared in descriptions but not in subject tags, making them question the accuracy and reliability of the results.
“I searched for activism, and while the word shows up in the description, it’s not listed as a subject. So I’m not sure if it’s actually categorized that way.”
“I thought the search bar would be at the top, but it wasn’t always there.”
Recommendation #2
We proposed reorganizing the search bar layout and rewording labels to make advanced search and filters more accessible.
We added filtering options to help users refine their searches more easily. The "Modify Search" button was renamed to “Advanced Search” and moved to the homepage for better visibility, helping users find more precise and relevant results without confusion.
Finding #3
Many users found the “Browse Random” page difficult to navigate due to confusing scrolling behavior and a fragmented layout.
Automatic scrolling made it hard for users to control their browsing, and unresponsive navigation arrows added to their frustration. Additionally, the segmented multi-row layout disrupted the visual flow, making it harder to follow and understand how content was organized.
50% of users found the automatic scrolling animation on the Browse Random page disorienting, making it difficult to browse comfortably.
70% reported navigation arrows were broken, unresponsive, or inconsistent.
Participants were confused by the segmented layout and couldn’t tell the difference between sections and felt the browsing area was too long.
“I'm not sure what the difference between this section and this section and this section are.”
“These arrows don’t really seem to do anything.”
“It’s mildly helpful. I think the moving around thing is actually not helpful. If it was static, I think that would be way better.”
Recommendation #3
Redesigning the “Browse Random” section to improve clarity and control.
We proposed simplifying the layout with a consistent grid for smoother scanning. The auto-scrolling feature, which users found disorienting, was replaced with manual navigation (arrows + indicator dots) for more control. For flexibility, we added an optional “Play” button for those who prefer animated browsing. Together, these changes improve user agency and make discovery more intuitive.
Conclusions
In our final meeting, the client expressed agreement with our findings and noted that many of the insights reflected their initial assumptions.
Users also appreciated the guide’s effort to replicate the real-life experience of browsing zines. With just a few targeted usability improvements, the site is poised to offer a more intuitive, accessible, and enjoyable experience for a wide range of users.
💡 Positives & Strengths
Users loved the “Browse Random” page and felt it authentically captured the joy of discovering zines in person.
⏭️ Next Steps
Clarify category labels, strengthen visual hierarchy, and enhance the search and navigation features to support smoother exploration.
🧠 My Takeaway
Terminology and contextual content play a critical role in helping users—especially on archive-style sites—navigate and make sense of the experience, even for more experienced users.
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