CARRIE BENGSTON
UX DESIGN | CONTENT
Taronga Institute of Science & Learning subsite
Taronga Zoo is an iconic destination, over 100 years old in a stunning harbourside location in Mosman, Sydney.
The context
How can one of the world's most famous zoos showcase online its innovative new centre of excellence? Taronga Park Zoo is a much-loved destination on the shores of Sydney Harbour. The goal of this UX design student project was to develop concepts for a subsite for the Taronga Institute of Science and Learning ahead of its opening by the Duke and Duchess of Sussex in 2018.
Reflecting the Zoo’s mantra ‘For the Wild’, the Institute will bring together, for the first time, the Zoo’s world-renowned scientists and leading conservation educators in one location.
“I realised that there was no centre of excellence that focused on wildlife conservation and education in the southern hemisphere”
- Cameron Kerr, Taronga Zoo CEO
The problem
Our goal, set by our instructor, was to raise awareness of the Institute online, potentially via a subsite. We envisioned a need for prominent and engaging new pages that integrate with the already extensive Zoo website. These pages, organised into a coherent subsite, would describe and promote the Institute's research and education activities and facilities to users such as teachers, the public and scientists. The subsite could grow as the Institute itself becomes established and grows, providing a framework for future content.
Our goal was to raise awareness of the Institute online.
The process
Me, Julia and Jennifer affinity mapping to identify themes emerging from our user research
My fellow students and I selected and used a number of UX design techniques, including contextual inquiry, user interviews, business and subject matter expert interviews, analysis of competitors and comparator websites, survey design and implementation, affinity mapping, empathy mapping, usability testing, wireframing and prototyping via Sketch and InVision and 2 rounds of design iteration. Over 2.5 weeks, we conducted all our research and designs.
During the research phase, we learnt that teachers want, more than anything, clear curriculum links for an excursion. The venue must show how it offers learning experiences that relate to and extend classroom learning. Also teachers are very busy and their is a large administrative burden in organising excursions.
“Teachers basically don't have the time to organise excursions and anything that will make the whole process more efficient would be appreciated.”
- Primary school teacher, Sydney
My role
While we worked as a three-person team, I led several UX Design project tasks:
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I arranged the contextual inquiry and stakeholder interviews with Taronga's CEO and Guest Experiences Manager. This allowed us to hear first-hand about the Zoo's goal for the Institute.
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I led the analysis of competitors and comparator websites, particularly with other conservation research institutes, and guided the development of research pages. My experience as a research communicator helped here.
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I co-ordinated teacher usability testing, and contributed to the design concepts. My fellow students deserve the credit for implementing the designs and revising them in the light of user testing and other feedback.
I developed this user persona for a teacher taking students on excursions, based on interviews and a zoo visit survey conducted by our team. (Click image to enlarge)
The solution
One of my sketches for a scientist bio page
We created designs in Sketch and InVision for key education and research pages.
Research students told us they need to understand the calibre of the research and support available, learn about potential supervisors and contact them. Prototypes we created included researcher bios, projects and facilities.
For example, one page describes the Cryodiversity Bank, a facility which will store frozen tissue samples from animals facing extinction. The design gives a 360 degree view of the lab, a virtual tour, which user surveys indicated would be valued. User testing showed more information about the niche types of equipment and techniques used would be helpful.
360-degree view of lab gives a virtual tour
Design echoes main site design
"I want more information about the equipment"
Users liked testimonials
Screenshot of a clickable prototype of a page for researchers showcasing the CryoDiversity Bank. The design was created in Sketch and InVision.
User interviews showed teachers, on the other hand, want to know how the Institute will support learning in specific curriculum areas. We developed and tested education pages for the 'immersive habitat classrooms', in which students can experience rainforest, woodland and desert environments. Teacher feedback on our prototypes revealed several area of improvement with the design including the need for more detailed image captions in the photo gallery and more information about the immersive habitat classrooms.
"More detailed captions please"
Links to curriculum areas and excursion documentation
Screenshot of an image gallery, created in Sketch and InVision of a page for teachers illustrating the new immersive classrooms. Teachers wanted to see what these were.
Next steps for the project would be to validate the information architecture, conduct additional user testing with teachers and researchers, do usability testing with the public, and iterate on the designs based on the findings. Despite its short duration, our UX project outcomes provided some new insights and ideas for showcasing Taronga's exciting new centre in ways that addressed user needs. We received a positive response from the Zoo, who were impressed by our UX thinking and designs.
And finally, since you've made it to the end, here is your reward . . .
Fun animal fact!
Male Ring-tailed lemurs have ‘stink fights’. They use their scent glands to smear smells on their tails, which they wave at their rivals. Watch out King Julien! Learn more about ring-tailed lemurs at Taronga Zoo.