Zoë Waechter


PLAY













Despite offering specialized software and expert support, NYU’s Data Services (DS) Lab was largely underutilized for its intended purpose and widely misunderstood by students. Many users worked in the space without using its tools, while most of the student population was unaware of the Lab’s existence or services altogether.










Key takeaways  from initial research:

1. Students enjoy having a space to use as they like– whether that be for work, play, or collaboration.

2. T he DS Lab is being used as a space, not a service.
In response, our team conducted a mixed-methods research study to understand how students use, perceive, and navigate the DS Lab. Our process included stakeholder mapping, a literature review on academic research spaces, fly-on-the-wall observations, in-context interviews, and a campus-wide survey. Through this research, we identified a significant gap between institutional intent and user behavior, revealing two dominant user groups: students seeking a place to work and students who require access to specialized software.


Focusing on the latter, we translated insights into actionable interventions across branding, spatial clarity, and departmental outreach. Key outcomes included the design and implementation of new workstation screensavers—developed in collaboration with NYU stakeholders—to clearly communicate the Lab’s purpose and offerings, as well as proposals for improved signage and increased class-based demos. By clarifying the DS Lab’s identity and capabilities, this project directly reduced barriers for students who rely on specialized tools for coursework and research. Our interventions help students more easily recognize when the Lab can support their academic needs, empowering them to access resources they may not have otherwise known existed. In the long term, these changes support more equitable access to advanced software, reduce friction for students entering unfamiliar institutional spaces and strengthen the Lab’s role as a visible, approachable resource within the university ecosystem.





SPACIAL IDENTITY

Implementing the best layout to support the current usage patterns.





VISUAL IDENTITY

Improving the Lab’s visual identity so its purpose is recognizable and intuitive.
STUDENTS ENGAGEMENT

Increasing active participation through events, programming and signage.