Nasjonalmuseet

Introduction

For this group project in our UX/UI class, two classmates and I focused on improving the information architecture of the Nasjonalmuseet’s digital platform. The objective was to enhance the structure of their "Samlingen" page, making it easier for users to navigate and discover the museum's vast collection.

Through a combination of user research, testing, and iterative design, we identified key pain points and developed solutions tailored to the needs of the museum's audience.

Our process included conducting three user tests, creating three detailed personas to represent typical visitors, and leveraging insights from comparative analysis and survey.

We used methods such as Tree Jack testing, Cardsort and content audit, Google Forms, sitemapping and creating low-fi wireframes for a new solution.

These steps allowed us to deliver a design proposal that balances user-friendliness with the existing visual identity of the Nasjonalmuseet.

Current solution

Main homepage of Nasjonalmuseet. To navigate to "Samlingen" - The Art Collection, you need to click on the hamburger menu in the top-right corner, not the "Samlingen" under "Hva skjer". These are two separate pages with the same name.

"Samlingen" The Art Collection main page.

When using the search bar, you are directed to this page. It serves as an additional step to refine your search based on your initial query. We identified this as a pain point due to the unnecessary steps required to filter and locate specific artwork. The "filter section" under Samlingen became our main focus, aiming to: 1) reduce the number of clicks needed to access the filter options, and 2) simplify the process of narrowing down the search.

The process

When tackling a project, I typically follow a structured design thinking process based on these eight steps: Define, Research, Analysis & Planning, Design, Prototyping, Testing, Launch, and Iteration. This framework helps me approach challenges methodically while leaving room for creativity and flexibility.

Step 1: Define

The first step in our process was to establish the scope and objectives of the project. The main goal was to improve the "Samlingen" page of the Nasjonalmuseet's website to make navigation and discovery of artworks more intuitive.

To gain a better understanding of the challenges faced by museum visitors, we began by visiting the National Museum itself. During our visit, we attempted to engage directly with visitors to gather insights about their experiences with the museum's website and their overall visit.

We asked questions about whether they found it difficult to locate art and collections, or access relevant information prior to their visit. This fieldwork was invaluable in helping us better understand the target audience and their needs. These initial observations and conversations provided us with a foundation for the research phase, where we sought to further explore user behavior and identify key pain points.

Step 2: Research

Building on our initial fieldwork at the National Museum, we delved deeper into understanding the needs and challenges of the museum's visitors through a variety of research methods:

A. Survey

To gather insights from a broader audience, we distributed a survey targeting potential visitors. The responses helped us understand users' expectations for the "Samlingen" page, including what they looked for before their visit and the features they considered important for navigating the museum's vast collection. We used Google Forms to create questionnaire regarding information on the websit.

Image from our Google Forms results: "What are the reasons you visit the Nasjonalmuseet website?" The clear winner is finding opening hours. "Samlingen" is the least visited, possibly because it is so hidden?

B. Card sorting & communication with the museum

We conducted a card sort to analyze how users intuitively grouped and categorized content. Participants were asked to organize key elements from the "Samlingen" page into logical categories. This revealed areas where the current structure was unclear and informed our redesign of the site's navigation.

Through email correspondence with the museum, we gained valuable insights into the challenges they had already identified. They highlighted user feedback about pain points on the "Samlingen" page, such as the difficulty of locating filters and understanding how to create personalized collections. This communication was instrumental in shaping our focus areas.

C. User testing

We conducted three user tests—two on the existing website and one on our proposed solution. The results showed consistent challenges with the current platform:The filter function was difficult to find, making navigation cumbersome.The presentation of artworks was cluttered and disorganized, creating confusion.For less experienced users, features like creating personal collections were unclear and unintuitive.

D. Comparative analysis

We analyzed how other museums structure their online collections. By comparing best practices and innovative features, we identified strategies to make the Nasjonalmuseet's site more engaging and easier to use. For instance, the Van Gogh Museum’s collection page served as an excellent example. Despite having thousands of pieces, their website uses a minimalist design with a simple and intuitive filter menu.

Users can quickly refine searches by categories such as "artworks," "themes," or "medium," ensuring they can easily locate specific items without feeling overwhelmed. This approach highlighted the importance of creating a streamlined filter system for Nasjonalmuseet’s "Samlingen" page, helping users navigate its vast collection in a similarly efficient and enjoyable manner.

The combination of these research methods gave us a comprehensive understanding of the key pain points and user needs. This allowed us to prioritize improvements in areas like filter functionality, artwork organization, and overall user experience. These insights laid the groundwork for the Analysis & planning phase.

Step 3: Analysis & planning

Based on the research findings, we identified two primary issues that needed to be addressed:

- Filter Function: Users found it challenging to locate and use the filter function, which made refining searches unnecessarily difficult.
- Artwork Layout: The disorganized presentation of artworks created confusion and hindered users’ ability to browse the collection effectively. To address these challenges, we synthesized the data into actionable insights, starting with the development of three personas.

These personas—representing key user groups such as art enthusiasts, casual visitors, and students—allowed us to maintain a user-centered perspective throughout the project. Each persona highlighted distinct needs and behaviors, ensuring our solutions addressed a diverse range of users.

Next, we created a problem-focused sitemap, which mapped the existing structure of the "Samlingen" page alongside proposed improvements. The new sitemap prioritized clearer categorization and more intuitive navigation paths, making it easier for users to locate desired information.

We also developed user journeys to visualize how different personas would interact with the site. These journeys highlighted pain points and opportunities for enhancement, such as improving the accessibility of the filter menu and organizing artwork displays into logical groupings. For example, a student persona might require quick access to academic materials, while a casual visitor might prefer an exploratory approach with minimal effort.

These tools—personas, sitemaps, and user journeys—helped us plan targeted solutions that aligned with user needs, museum goals, and best practices observed during our research phase. By clearly defining the problem areas and user interactions, we were well-prepared to move into the design phase with confidence.

Step 4: Ideation and prototyping

With the insights and planning from the research phase, we moved into the design process by creating low-fidelity wireframes to visualize potential solutions for the identified challenges. Our focus was on addressing the two main issues: the unintuitive filter function and the disorganized artwork layout.

In our wireframes, we addressed the challenges of filter functionality, artwork layout, and navigation. To improve filter functionality, we designed a prominent and accessible filter button, accompanied by a simplified menu with categories like "Artist," "Period," and "Medium," inspired by the minimalist approach of the Van Gogh Museum. The filter menu was placed on a fixed side panel, allowing users to refine searches without losing their position on the page.

For a more organized artwork layout, we introduced a slider function that let users customize the number of artworks displayed per row, switching between detailed and broader views. Artworks were grouped into logical sections, such as themes and periods, to create a structured browsing experience.

To enhance navigation, we incorporated breadcrumbs and a clearly labeled navigation bar, ensuring users could understand their position within the site. Additionally, the "Create Your Collection" feature was made more intuitive with clearer instructions and visual cues.We translated the wireframes into a functional low-fidelity prototype using Figma to test basic interactions and gather feedback. This prototype evaluated the filter accessibility, usability of the slider function, and effectiveness of the user flows, ensuring each user could achieve their goals—whether exploring artworks, finding resources, or creating personal collections—with ease and clarity.