Library Design Playbook

The Library Design Playbook is a practical, user‑centred resource designed to build shared capability in experience design across the library. Developed at Deakin University Library, it responds to a common challenge: while many staff contribute to user experience, there is often no consistent, organisation‑wide approach to designing services, content, and systems with users in mind.

The Playbook brings together UX, UI, content, learning, and service design practices into a single, centralised source of truth, helping to create more consistent and scalable library experiences. Structured around the Double Diamond framework (Discover, Define, Design, Deliver), it provides clear guidance, tools, and practical examples that can be applied in everyday work.

Library staff can use the Playbook to:

• plan and structure projects using a clear, adaptable design process

• select appropriate methods and tools based on their context and confidence level

• design and improve services, content, and experiences with users at the centre

• build their understanding of UX practices and apply them with confidence

Designed for people at all levels of UX experience, the Playbook encourages a “good enough” approach—supporting teams to start small, learn by doing, and progressively build capability. It reinforces that user experience is a shared responsibility, while also recognising the value of specialist expertise for more complex work.

The Playbook itself was developed using a user‑centred approach. A cross-disciplinary team worked iteratively to understand staff needs, reduce barriers to adoption, and create guidance that is practical, accessible, and relevant to real library contexts. The result is a scalable resource that supports consistent, evidence‑based design and helps embed a culture of user-centred thinking across the organisation.