MAYA Design: Carnegie Library

The design consultancy MAYA has a great portfolio piece on their redesign of the Carnegie Library in Pittsburgh, PA.

To counter the perception of dusty, dowdy spaces eclipsed by Google, Amazon, and Barnes&Noble, some libraries have erected architectural showplaces.

The Carnegie Library of Pittsburgh realized that such facelifts alone do not change much about their institutionalized and asset-centric approach to helping people engage with information. Starting with questions about what the library should communicate when people walk in the door—but aiming for deep changes that would make them a preferred destination for information and social interaction— Carnegie Library administrators and librarians, graphics design firm Landesberg Design, and architectural firm Edge Studio asked MAYA to join their team.

MAYA describes their process and provides and an incredible image gallery of their sketches, wireframes, personas, and other design documentation.