Suhrkamp Verlag

Suhrkamp Verlag is a German publishing house, established in 1950 and generally acknowledged as one of the leading European publishers of fine literature.

Suhrkamp Verlag does not publish books, but authors - the programmatic guiding principles can also be traced back to this publishing principle. They point out that the publishing house is not only concerned with the individual book, but with the overall literary or scholarly physiognomy of its authors. This results in the publication pillars of Suhrkamp's publishing program: literature, both German-language and international, nonfiction, and science, with its emphasis on philosophy and the social sciences.

This is the biggest e-commerce project I worked on until now, creating over 70 screens for desktop, tablet and mobile. This publisher webshop is different from other e-commerce projects, because it has not only a seller part but also special adjacent pages for authors, complex information about news, articles and upcoming and current events.

Overview

As the lead designer on the project, I worked closely with Suhrkamp stakeholders and users to define goals and validate concepts. The timeline for the project was only three months, so it was crucial to use a lean UX approach in working for this project. I collaborated with my development team to implement my designs and provided design QA support up until the launch of the webshop.

My role

UI/UX Design
User Research
Journey Mapping
Wireframing
Information Architecture
Interaction Design
Design Systems
Design QA

Client

Suhrkamp Verlag

Agency

Wirth & Horn Informationssysteme GmbH

Tools

Adobe XD, Adobe Photoshop, Redmine, Google Forms

Platform

Desktop
Mobile
Tablet

Project Goals

  1. Enhance Accessibility: Make the website more accessible to a wider audience, including individuals with disabilities.
  2. Optimize Content Discovery: Improve the navigation and content organization to help users discover books, authors, and articles effortlessly.
  3. Modernize Aesthetics: Create a visually appealing and contemporary design that reflects the essence of Suhrkamp Verlag.
  4. Increase Engagement: Encourage user engagement through interactive features, social media integration, and user-generated content.
  5. Streamline Purchase Process: Simplify the process of purchasing books, both physical and digital, directly from the website.
  6. Responsive Design: Ensure that the website is fully responsive across various devices and screen sizes.

Research and Analysis

  • Conducted user interviews and surveys to gather insights on user pain points and expectations.
  • Analyzed website analytics to identify drop-off points and pages with high bounce rates.
  • Competitor analysis to understand best practices and benchmark against other publishing websites.
  • Accessibility audit to ensure compliance with WCAG guidelines.

Design Approach

Clear Information Architecture

Reorganized the website's information architecture into distinct sections such as "Books," "Authors," "Articles," and "Events." This helps users easily find what they are looking for and discover related content.

Visual
Storytelling

Utilized visually compelling imagery and typography to convey the essence of Suhrkamp Verlag's publications. Highlighted book covers, author profiles, and featured articles with engaging visuals.

Improved Search and Filtering

Implemented an advanced search functionality that allows users to filter books by genre, author, publication date, and format. Auto-suggestions and instant search results enhance user convenience

Accessibility Enhancements

Made significant improvements to ensure the website is accessible to all users, including those with disabilities. This includes adding alt text to images, improving keyboard navigation, and offering high-contrast themes.

Streamlined Checkout Process

Simplified the book purchase process, allowing users to easily add items to their cart, review their order, and make secure payments. Options for both physical and digital purchases are clearly presented.

Mobile-First
Design

Ensured that the website is fully responsive, providing an optimal experience on smartphones and tablets. Mobile users can access all features and content seamlessly.

Outcome

The redesigned Suhrkamp Verlag website has successfully achieved its goals, resulting in the following benefits:

  • Improved User Engagement: User-generated content, enhanced search, and social media integration have fostered a sense of community and increased user engagement.
  • Increased Accessibility: The website is now more inclusive, catering to a wider audience.
  • Enhanced Brand Image: The modern and visually appealing design has reinforced Suhrkamp Verlag's reputation as a leading literary publisher.
  • Streamlined Purchases: Users can now make purchases more easily, contributing to increased sales.
  • Positive User Feedback: Initial feedback from users and stakeholders has been overwhelmingly positive.

The Suhrkamp Verlag website redesign represents a successful endeavor in creating a user-centric and visually captivating platform that celebrates literature, philosophy, and culture while catering to the needs of a diverse online audience.

Primary pages

Home page

Title matrix page

Title list page

Title detail page

Other pages

Author detail page

Author list page

Explore page

Shopping cart

Login / Register page

Address page

Confirmation page

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