Adler Planetarium Online Store Redesign
Problem: Design a clickable prototype around an online
shopping experience.
Client: The Adler Store at the Adler Planetarium
Deliverables: A low-med fidelity, interactive prototype based on a wireframed interface.
Time Frame
(insert time frame of two week process)
Research Strategy
The Adler Planetarium was the first Planetarium in the Western Hemisphere. Built in 1930, it was dedicated by Max Adler to be “a classroom under the heavens.” The mission of the Adler Planetarium is to inspire exploration and understanding of our Universe. With the knowledge that the Adler’s main drive is education and inspiring the next generation to learn and explore our universe, I went to the Adler to observe the members and guests of the Adler Store, Shopped the Adler myself, interviewed Adler members, and conducted competitive analysis with online retailers such as Nasa’s online store, and other toy retailers. I wanted to discover in what ways does the Adler Store promote the Adler’s mission statement, and how I could implement these things into the design of the online store.
Observing the Adler Store
I went to the Adler Store and observed what products they offered. I also watched individuals shop the store. I paid attention to what they looked at, picked up, played with, and bought.
Interview
I conducted one interview with a couple that had been members of the Adler Planetarium for 40 years. I asked them open ended questions about why they come to the Adler, why space, whether they regularly visit the Store every visit, and the types of things that intrigue them within the store.
Competitive Analysis
I researched a few online retail sites to understand how museum stores, space stores, and toy stores are typically organized and made to achieve business goals while also ensuring the user achieves their personal goals.
Synthesis of Research
What did the Research tell us?
Through observation and interviews, I was able to distill a few outstanding insights from which to carry forward through the redesign process.
While the Adler Store does contain those items you would typically find in a gift shop such as mementos and t-shirts, its main appeal are the interactive products.
The Adler Store allows you to give someone, (or keep for yourself) a taste of the experience or the museum, an opportunity to learn, and to expand their knowledge.
The Adler Store contains products that appeal to specific interests within the space and exploration category. Astronaut and STEM related.
Planning
After synthesizing the research it was clear that the Adler’s museum store was an extension of the museum experience itself. A lot of the items sold their are interactive and/or educational. Our interviewees clearly stated that they visited the store every visit even though they had been members for 40 years. The design principles became clear.
Design Principles
The online Adler Store should:
Be interactive.
Have clearly defined categories that make it easy to find exactly what you’re looking for AND Explore and Learn
Ultimately inspire and motivate students to pursue learning and careers in STEM
Executing Website Design Principles
User Flow
Card Sort
Storyboard
Design
