National Library of Australia

National Library of Australia

client-logo

The National Library of Australia (NLA) engaged Digital Garden to redesign its website and develop a scalable design system to ensure consistency across all digital platforms. The project aimed to improve accessibility, enhance the user experience, and align the website with the Library’s identity.

project-slider
project-slider
project-slider

The objective

During the discovery phase, we identified that GovCMS, initially considered for the project, would not provide the flexibility needed to meet the Library’s complex requirements. Instead, we built the site on Drupal 10, hosted on Platform.sh, enabling greater adaptability to support NLA’s evolving needs.

The redesigned website integrates seamlessly with key services, including the Catalogue, Trove, and the NLA Bookshop. The modern, user-friendly platform features intuitive navigation, enhanced security, and full compliance with the Digital Service Standard. The scalable design system we developed ensures a consistent digital presence across NLA’s assets and supports future growth.

 

project-mosaic-item
project-mosaic-item
project-mosaic-item
Building on insights with collaborative design

Building on insights with collaborative design

Prior to our involvement, the NLA had conducted an extensive discovery and UX phase, which included in-depth research into user types and information architecture (IA). We seamlessly incorporated these insights into our wireframes and UI design system, ensuring the website addressed user needs and delivered an improved user journey.

Collaboration was central to our process. We worked closely with NLA through each sprint, incorporating their feedback and validating design decisions through regular user testing.

Best practices for a robust design system

Best practices for a robust design system

To deliver a high-quality, user-centric experience, we drew on established government design systems such as NSW Service and QLD Gov, adopting best practices to develop accessible and functional components that comply fully with AA WCAG standards.

By utilising the Atomic Design framework and referencing enterprise systems like Google’s Material Design and Apple’s Human Interface Guidelines, we created a flexible and scalable design system. This system works seamlessly in both light and dark modes, ensuring consistency while accommodating stakeholder requirements.

digital garden

Results

The redesigned website reflects the National Library of Australia’s identity while delivering a vastly improved user experience. Users can now access and explore the Library’s extensive resources more intuitively, supported by a modern, secure, and scalable platform that meets the highest accessibility and design standards.