Our principles of one place, content layering, universal design, and digital strategy guide every decision in the design system.
These principles are why the design system exists. When we decide what to build, what to share, and how something should look and behave, we choose in their favor. One place comes first. The rest describe how we get there.
We design our digital spaces to feel like one welcoming, helpful, and unified place. People come to us with a goal, not an org chart. By presenting as one place, they can do what they came to do without having to learn how we're organized.
Through consistent design, we create one connected experience where people engage confidently with our collections, services, and each other.
People should always be able to tell where they are, what they can do here, and how to reach the next place. That is what turns separate services into one place.
We design with universal design principles to create digital experiences that are usable by different people, to the greatest extent possible, without the need for adaptation or specialized design.
Our adapted principles of universal design are:
Universal design principles were originally developed by North Carolina State University's Center for Universal Design.
We design layouts that respect people's attention. An interface that shows every option at once makes people do the work of finding what matters. Content layering means presenting information and options at the point of need, rather than all at once. We lead with what is useful for the task at hand and bring the rest forward when people need it.
Content layering supports wayfinding: when each page shows what matters for the moment, people can tell where they are and what to do next. For practical guidance, see consider layering.
Learn more by reading WCAG 3.0: Layout and Making Content Usable for People with Cognitive and Learning Disabilities.
Our design system supports key aspects of the Penn Libraries Digital Strategy: