Reimagining Wikipedia
Service based Application
Academic Project
Jan 2024 - 10 Weeks
User Satisfaction - 97%
My Role
Target User Group
Tools Used
Product architect & UI Designer
Age group: 18-70 Years
Figma, Storyboard, User testing.com, FigJam, Balsamiq, Excel
Introduction and Problem Statement
Introduction
Wikipedia, launched in 2001, is a globally recognized, web-based encyclopedia that thrives on collective knowledge exchange. With its open editing model, it empowers anyone with internet access to contribute, creating a dynamic platform enriched by millions of global volunteers. Available in multiple languages, Wikipedia serves as a free and accessible information source for education, research, and public knowledge.
Problem Statement
Despite its success, Wikipedia faces challenges such as content reliability, editor retention, diversity of information, and evolving user needs. This project aims to better understand the requirements and habits of Wikipedia's diverse user base to address these issues and reimagine the platform for enhanced inclusivity and sustainability.
Target Audience
Product Objectives
- Free and Open Access: Ensure unrestricted access to knowledge for everyone, regardless of location or socio-economic status, empowering global users with internet connectivity.
- Multilingual Content: Expand and enrich content across multiple languages to foster inclusivity and serve a diverse, global audience.
- High-Quality Sources: Uphold credibility by prioritizing the integration of reputable and verifiable sources in all articles.
- Seamless User Experience: Deliver a streamlined and intuitive platform that keeps users engaged and satisfied.
- Optimized Search and Navigation: Enhance search functionality and navigation to enable users to locate information quickly and efficiently.
Verify credentials
User Research Method 1 – Open/Closed Card Sorting
Target Audience: The primary target audience for Wikipedia includes individuals who actively use Wikipedia for information consumption and those who contribute to its content. This audience may be divided into two primary categories.
Wikipedia Users: These are individuals who mainly use Wikipedia as a source of information across a wide range of topics. Users of Wikipedia include professionals, academics, students, and members of the public looking for reliable and easily accessible information.
Wikipedia Editors: Individuals who actively contribute to the content of Wikipedia by writing, editing, and maintaining articles are referred to as Wikipedians or editors. They are highly dedicated to the open cooperation and knowledge-sharing ideals of the platform. Editors come from a variety of backgrounds and include volunteers, professionals in many disciplines, and enthusiasts.
The success of Wikipedia depends on its contributors and users; thus, it is crucial that the platform meets their demands.
Basically, Wikipedia's user base is incredibly diverse, spanning all age groups, professions, and regions. It provides a diverse worldwide audience with a range of requirements and demands.
Pain Points
Lack of TTS support creates accessibility barriers, disrupts user experience, and forces reliance on third-party tools, raising privacy concerns.
Open editing leads to vulnerability to vandalism, edit wars, and challenges in balancing openness with content quality.
Overly long pages overwhelm users, hinder quick information retrieval, and are cumbersome on mobile devices.
Inefficient search results and extra navigation steps frustrate users and delay access to specific information.
Wikipedia’s outdated layout lacks modern web design aesthetics, making it less engaging compared to dynamic, contemporary platforms.
Science and technology
Open/Closed card sorting is a technique that can be used to organize content and understand how users perceive and categorize information.
This method has been chosen because Wikipedia is a website that contains information in the form of pages. Categorizing this information is very crucial since it can greatly improve navigation.
Performing this research(specifically closed sorting) also helps in validating if the current navigation works as per user requirements.
If new content is added, this technique will assist in determining whether a new category should be created or if it can be added to an existing category.
Arts
Nature
User Research Method 2 – Persona Creation
Bio: Mark is a 30-year-old amateur astronomer and IT professional. He has a strong interest in space exploration, telescopes, and astrophotography. He is comfortable using computers and frequently reads about scientific topics in his spare time.
Goals and Needs:
Mark uses Wikipedia to stay updated on the latest discoveries in astronomy, including new celestial objects, missions, and scientific theories.
He values articles that are well-referenced, reliable, and up-to-date to deepen his knowledge in the field.
Mark appreciates user-contributed content and often contributes to articles related to astronomy and space science.
He wants to easily access and navigate information on a variety of celestial objects and phenomena.
Pain Points:
Mark occasionally struggles to find detailed information on very specific or lesser-known celestial objects.
He finds that some articles lack visual aids or diagrams, making it harder to understand complex astronomical concepts.
Mark sometimes encounters incomplete or outdated articles that don't satisfy his need for the latest information.
Lo-Fi Mockup
Working prototype
Conclusion
The Wikipedia project highlights the need to address key pain points to enhance the platform's accessibility, usability, and reliability for its global audience. By implementing features like text-to-speech functionality, modernizing the design, improving search capabilities, and ensuring content integrity, Wikipedia can provide a more inclusive and engaging user experience. Addressing these challenges will not only uphold Wikipedia's mission of free and open knowledge access but also strengthen its position as a trusted resource in the digital age. This project emphasizes the importance of evolving with user needs while preserving the core values that make Wikipedia a vital tool for education and information-sharing worldwide.
