The project
The divisions of the Bibliothèque nationale de France (BnF) recognized that the Home Page of their website did not serve the various audiences that used the library. K+A was engaged by the Département de la bibliothèque numérique to develop a plan for the evolution of this page, including a new global navigation for the website.
The solution
Audiences and corresponding web site contents
We conducted interviews with major stakeholders from each of the library's divisions, to gather and organize their goals for the website, as well as the vision they had of the audience they serve. These interviews were presented in the form of a table and circulated to the statekholders. In the process we developed a new consensus among the divisions about the types of audience and the needs to be served.
The map of the current BnF website, developed for the earlier project, was adapted to a new organization of the site, tuned to the needs of the audience. This map demonstrated in great detail how the global navigation should work.
Evolution of home page wireframes: from zones to detail
A series of wire frame models for the Home Page were produced, demonstrating how the page could be divided into zones that address the needs of each audience. After discussions, the wire frames were populated with real content, to demonstrate how the system could be used to present current activities at the library.
The result
Application of new homepage design over time
The final wire frames were accepted bo the library as the basis for redesigning the Home Page and global navigation for the site. The wire frames provided clear instructions to the design group chosen to redesign the site. The new design system has been in place since the fall of 2005.