Carolyn A. Uhl, Ph.D.
Researcher
Project 1: UND Housing
This project began with a cognitive walkthrough of the site, where I noted any issues users might face as they navigated through the interface. I then completed a hierarchical task analysis in order to better understand the interface's navigation and the steps required to complete each task. Next, I completed user testing sessions to get an idea of how users experienced the interface, noting common themes across testing sessions. Working with a group, we organized the website’s content in a way that made sense to us, while keeping the user testing results in mind. Finally, paper prototypes were created and tested, which led to the creation of a low-fidelity prototype. The low-fidelity prototype was tested using eye tracking software. Information was presented to the clients at each stage and client feedback was taken into consideration prior to moving forward in the project.
The original website was analyzed using Jakob Nielsen’s 8 out of the 10 heuristics for User Interface Design. The original website was successful for the following heuristics: visibility of system status, recognition rather than recall.
The original website was unsuccesful for the following heuristics: match between system and the real word, user control and freedom, consistency and standards, flexibility and efficiency of use, aesthetic and minimalist design, and help and documentation.
The University of North Dakota Housing homepage, prior to the start of the project.
I then completed a hierarchical task analysis, consisting of both written steps and a decomposition diagram, which involved focusing on decomposing a high-level task into subtasks. This allowed me, as a researcher, to better understand the interface's navigation and the steps required of the user in order to successfully complete each task.
Hierarchical Task Analysis,
with Decomposition Diagram.
I completed user testing on the existing UND Housing page in order to gage how users interacted with the interface and to gain insight from directly from users as they explored the website. This allowed me to note problems faced by users, as well as users’ likes and dislikes about the existing interface. I used this information to complete a report, which was presented to the client.
Sample from User Testing Report
Working with a group, we organized the website’s content in a way that made sense to us, while keeping the user testing results in mind.
Affinity Diagramming
Once the content was grouped in an organized and cohesive manner, I created a paper prototype. This paper prototype was tested, and the user input was considered in the creation of a low-fidelity prototype.
Paper Prototype
The low-fidelity prototype was tested using Tobii eye tracking software. I presented my low-fidelity prototype to the client and client feedback was taken into consideration prior to moving forward with the high-fidelity prototype.
Low-Fidelity Prototype
Low-Fidelity Prototype
A card-sort was conducted with users to assess their ideas of how context should be grouped.
Card-Sort
After meeting with current students, we developed a 2½D sketch persona board, which included a quardrant for the users name, one for facts about the user, another for user behaviors, and the last one for the user's needs and goals.
