Navigating the Archives

Archives hold primary sources that offer direct insights into the past. Manuscripts, ledgers, handwritten letters, photographs, maps: the raw material of national histories, local histories, family histories, and other by-products of human activity. Too often, the online catalogues that give access to these records are hard to use.

Navigating the Archives was developed in partnership with Hackney Archives. The project offers a set of design guidelines for their online catalogue, with suggestions for improving search and discovery. The final outcome was informed by user research including interviews, usability testing, and a participatory drop-in activity.