HCI /depot
Building a digital archive for HCI students' capstone thesis
projects.
The HCI/d Capstone Collection is a digital archive I created
to bring together posters, documentation, and prototypes
from past thesis projects in the HCI/d program at Indiana
University Bloomington.
I built it to make it easier for students, faculty, and
researchers to explore years of creative, thoughtful, and
impactful work—all in one place.
How it all started
I reviewed past projects and set up metadata definitions
before starting the archive.
While working on my own capstone, I spent way too much time
hunting down past examples for inspiration and I realized
there wasn't a proper collection anywhere. So I decided to
build this archive for future HCI students to make their
capstone journey a bit more easier.
I took a class in Digital Libraries, where I learned the
importance of planning for structure and metadata early on.
Before building the archive, I reviewed all available
projects and created a clear metadata definition and
application profile to guide the organization of the
collection.
How it all came together
Brought all past HCI/d capstone projects into one
searchable, organized digital home.
Centralized Collection
Created a single, organized digital space to host past
projects, replacing the scattered sources previously relied
on by students and faculty.
Metadata-Driven Search
Designed metadata fields for easier browsing, searching, and
grouping based on project types, themes, and user groups.
User-Friendly Interface
Developed the platform using CollectionBuilder, Jekyll, and
Ruby to ensure an intuitive and seamless user experience.
Digital Accessibility
Made capstone resources accessible online to inspire
students, assist faculty, and attract prospective
researchers.
Custom Controlled Vocabularies
Implemented standardized vocabularies for themes,
industries, and user groups to ensure consistency and
relevance.
Digitization Process
Converted physical archives into digital assets, preserving
the legacy of past projects and expanding their
accessibility.
shaped by students and faculty inputs
I gathered feedback from faculty and HCI/d students to
ensure the platform is easy to browse and navigate. The
design follows IU's brand colors and university design
guidelines to feel cohesive and official.
What I learned
Going through old posters and digging around in the archives
was honestly one of the most fun parts of this project. It
gave me a real sense of how creative and varied past
capstones have been.
I learned a lot about what's possible in the HCI program and it definitely helped shape how I approached my own capstone.
I learned a lot about what's possible in the HCI program and it definitely helped shape how I approached my own capstone.