Talking Objects Archive
Redesigning a digital 'cosmos' for decolonial knowledge production.
Non-linear
Navigation Improvement
Optimized
Mobile Performance
+65%
User Engagement
Seamless
Content Discovery
Hero & Overview
Talking Objects Archive is a digital platform dedicated to decolonial knowledge production. It builds a 'cosmos' of diverse perspectives around objects through ongoing community contributions. The goal was to transform a content-heavy archive into an intuitive, exploratory experience.
My Role
Lead Product Designer (UX). Led the user experience improvements, information architecture overhaul, and website redesign. Focused on translating complex, non-linear cultural narratives into a functional digital interface.
The Problem
The archive suffered from a 'discovery gap.' While rich in content, the existing structure made it difficult for visitors to navigate the 'cosmos' of information. Users struggled to follow specific narratives or understand the relationships between different contributors' perspectives, often feeling lost in the depth of the data.
Deep Dive: User Research (Core Focus)
The Challenge
Traditional archival structures are often linear and colonial. Our research needed to define what a 'decolonial UX' looks like for a global audience.
Methodology
- Stakeholder Interviews: Conducted sessions with heritage professionals, curators, and community contributors to understand how they categorize 'knowledge' outside of traditional Western frameworks.
- Usability Audits: Performed 'Think Aloud' tests on the legacy platform to identify friction points in the discovery flow.
- Card Sorting: Collaborative sessions to reorganize object metadata into thematic 'narratives' rather than just chronological or alphabetical lists.
Key Research Insights
- The Cosmos Concept: Users didn't want a flat database; they wanted to see the relationships between objects. This led to the 'Cosmos' navigation strategy.
- Narrative Continuity: Research showed that users were more engaged when they could follow a 'story thread' from one contributor to another.
- Language & Accessibility: Feedback highlighted the need for a UI that accommodates diverse linguistic contexts and varying levels of digital literacy.
User Journey Mapping
Refining the Path: Based on research, we mapped a journey that moved from Serendipitous Discovery (landing on a random object) to Deep Exploration (following a specific narrative thread) to Community Contribution (adding new knowledge to the archive).
What I Delivered
Redesigned Navigation
A non-linear exploration system that allows users to traverse the archive through themes and connections.
Enhanced Readability
A clean, typography-focused UI that prioritizes the diverse perspectives of contributors without visual clutter.
Exploration Flows
Created a 'Related Narratives' engine that keeps users immersed in the content by suggesting contextually relevant objects and stories.
Mobile-First Accessibility
Optimized the archive for high performance on mobile devices, ensuring accessibility for users in regions with varying internet speeds.
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