Case Study: Princeton University Press
The Challenge
Princeton University Press (PUP) is a world-renowned scholarly publisher with a diverse catalog of academic titles, spanning subjects from humanities to the sciences. Their digital presence had to balance academic rigor and broad discoverability for a global audience—ranging from researchers and students to casual readers. The challenge was to showcase a vast, ever-expanding catalog in a way that was both inviting and efficient, ensuring visitors could find relevant titles quickly while maintaining brand integrity.
My role as Product Manager
While overseeing budgets, schedules, and team deliverables as a producer, I also took on product management responsibilities by:
• Working closely with editorial, marketing, and operations teams to prioritize user-facing features and back-end tools
• Translating varied stakeholder requirements into a clear product roadmap focused on an improved browsing experience, streamlined purchasing options, and robust content management
• Employing data-driven insights—like user behavior analytics and feedback loops—to refine site architecture and create a more user-centric design
Planning and execution
I organized the initiative into iterative sprints dedicated to:
• Building a flexible catalog system that could handle thousands of titles
• Implementing advanced search filters and recommendation engines to guide readers to relevant works
• Refining design elements that stayed true to Princeton University Press’s brand guidelines while appealing to diverse user groups
By facilitating regular syncs with internal teams, I kept the project aligned with evolving editorial schedules and promotional campaigns, ensuring the platform was ready to spotlight new releases as they launched.
Results
• Improved discoverability: A robust search functionality, intuitive filtering, and dynamic recommendations helped users quickly locate specific titles or explore related topics
• Enhanced user journey: Streamlined pathways for browsing and purchasing academic titles led to a more engaging experience for visitors—from casual readers to dedicated researchers
• Scalable content management: A well-structured content framework enabled editorial and marketing teams to efficiently manage and promote both backlist and new releases in real time
Why this project stands out
Balancing the needs of academic stakeholders and end users required a holistic view of both production and product strategy. By combining producer-level coordination (budgets, timelines, team oversight) with a product manager’s focus on user experience and iterative feature development, I helped Princeton University Press create a dynamic online platform that showcases their scholarly catalog and invites a global community of readers to discover the breadth of Princeton’s published works.