Ithra - Interactive Book Kiosk
The Ithra Library is part of the King Abdulaziz Center for World Culture in Dhahran, Saudi Arabia, a major cultural hub focused on learning and discovery.
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This project focused on designing a kiosk experience that would support intuitive browsing, efficient content discovery, and a seamless self-service journey for visitors in a high-traffic public environment.
The Challenge
Designing for a public kiosk environment introduced unique constraints. Content was being automatically populated through an API, and multiple teams were contributing to the broader ecosystem. Traditional high-fidelity wireframes would not have reflected the dynamic nature of the system.
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The real challenge was ensuring the interface remained clear, responsive, and scalable while supporting automated content feeds and limited user attention in a walk-up experience.
My Approach
I shifted the focus from static page design to system behavior and user flow. Instead of over-investing in high-fidelity screens, I developed a mid-fidelity prototype that prioritized:
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fast content discovery
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touch-friendly interaction patterns
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flexible layouts for API-driven content
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clear visual hierarchy for public users
I worked closely with developers to confirm CMS alignment and ensure the design would support automated article population without breaking the experience.
Regular collaboration helped us validate technical constraints early and reduce downstream rework.
User Flow
Outcomes and Impact
The final kiosk experience delivered:
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A streamlined browsing flow optimized for walk-up users
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Flexible templates that supported automated content ingestion
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Reduced design rework by aligning early with development
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A scalable interaction model that could extend to future content types
By focusing on system behavior rather than static screens, the team was able to deliver a functional product faster while maintaining a cohesive user experience.
Reflection
This project reinforced that effective UX is not always about visual polish. In complex environments, the highest impact often comes from understanding system constraints early and designing for flexibility.
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Designing for API-driven content required letting go of pixel perfection and focusing instead on structure, hierarchy, and resilience. That shift allowed the experience to scale with minimal maintenance.
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It also highlighted the importance of tight collaboration between design and engineering when building products that rely heavily on automated data flows.
