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We
are usability consultants
At Info.Design, we
think of Website and other electronic documents as systems-with interrelated
parts working together toward a defined goal or set of goals. When these
parts are not working together the result can be devastating to your business.
People visit Websites
because they have tasks they want to perform (such as placing an order
or researching specifications for a product). Electronic documents work
well when an organization determines from the outset how the system can
best support its users in completing the tasks they want to do.
Electronic documents
also work when the content is structured so it, too, supports the users.
Our approach is to help organizations understand how to structure information
with the user in mind. This knowledge enables individuals and organizations
to create documents that supply users with the answers they seek.
Analyses
We offer five different
types of stand-alone analyses to our clients:
Educational Analysis
For our Educational Analysis, Thom Haller (principal
of Info.Design) comes to your organization for a three-hour session in
which you can observe Thom in a novice user role as he tests the organization's
Website. As Thom tries to perform tasks and navigate around the Website,
he talks out loud about what he is trying to do and where he is getting
lost.
Benefits
While navigating the information space, Thom shares how his experiences
relate to the current literature on usability and user-focused thinking.
This option benefits you because it connects the expert feedback to the
literature on electronic document design.
Deliverables
Info.Design
can tape the Educational Analysis. We can provide a "raw copy" (titles
only, separating the key sections of the analysis) or an "edited copy"
(shorter with key comments identified). We also offer an optional short
report (5-7 pages) highlighting lessons learned.
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User Contextual
Analysis (Paper Prototypes or Card Sort)
For
this analysis option, Info.Design will work with your organization to
assemble a representative sample of users. Instead of relying on the results
of a focus group (which, according to research, yields little information
about performance), we follow users through a decision-focused contextual
analysis.
Depending on when
this review takes place, reviewers can assess paper prototypes, wireframes
(HTML mockups), or labels via card sorting.In this review, we learn about
questions, concerns, and decision strategies users face as they try to
compare, contrast, and choose among information/navigation alternatives.
Info.Design will
ask users to talk aloud as they try to navigate through the structure
of information. This meeting (or meetings) with four to six people will
typically last a day.
Benefits
It provides specific quotes and commentary from actual users navigating
the information space.
Deliverables
We will
tape the User Contextual Analysis. We can provide a "raw copy" (titles
only, separating the key sections of the analysis) or an "edited copy"
(shorter with key comments identified). We also offer an optional short
report (5-7 pages) highlighting lessons learned.
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Advanced Website
Analysis (Educational and Heuristic Analysis)
Our
Advanced Website Analysis uses the Educational Analysis as its foundation.
In addition to gathering "contextual" information provided by Thom in
the user's role, you also benefit from the observation and note-taking
of additional reviewer. In this analysis, the reviewer watches Thom and
breaks down the user's thinking and experience into ten measurable "rules
of thumb" (heuristics).
Following Thom's
analysis, we meet with stakeholders from stakeholders and discuss our
observations as they relate to each heuristic. We then assess severity
in terms of frequency, impact, and persistence. We then tabulate the results
to show priorities.
Benefits
This analysis enables you to set priorities as you try to improve
the user's experience.
Deliverables
We tape the session, and after transferring it from digital video,
provide you with a raw copy of the tape (or extensive video editing at
an additional fee). We provide, during our day onsite, a Recommendations
Checklist. We then supplement that checklist with a 3-5 page Recommendations
Report - an itemized summary of user challenges, assembled so your organization
can see site difficulties and act on improving the site based on recommendations.
We deliver this report via email within one week of our meeting.
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Advanced
Website Analysis with Heuristic Report
Our
Advanced Website Analysis with Heuristic Report uses the Educational Analysis
as its foundation, but incorporates an additional reviewer (or reviewers).
In this analysis, the reviewer breaks down the user's thinking and experience
into ten measurable "rules of thumb" (heuristics).
For each heuristic,
we assess severity in terms of frequency, impact, and persistence. We
then tabulate the results to show priorities. The advanced report re-creates
Thom's experience by providing a brief narrative synopsis of each task
he undertakes. It then summarizes the results within the framework of
user challenges and recommendations for improvement.
Benefits
This analysis enables you to set priorities as you try to improve
the user's experience.
Deliverables
We tape
the session, and after transferring it from digital video, provide you
with a raw copy of the tape (or extensive video editing at an additional
fee). We will provide a one-day oral review/discussion session with Info.Design's
information architecture team and craft a recommendation checklist on
the Website. We anticipate six hours of analysis and discussion. This
deliverable differs from Option 2 in that it incorporates a 15-20 page
report. In this report, we identify areas we feel need the most work,
using our scale of Website heuristics, and provide recommendations for
those areas that we determine to be most severe.
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Pre-Launch User
Testing Analysis
Info.Design
believes user testing is essential to the development of a Website. We
can provide pre-launch user testing on your redeveloped Website to make
sure that the changes you've made are getting the results you want.
Benefits
Ensures that site enables users to accomplish their goals. Diminishes
the negative feedback that occurs when constituencies are unable to find
and use information. Provides a structure by which you can measure success.
Deliverables
We will
tape the testing sessions. We can provide a "raw copy" (titles only, separating
the key sections of the analysis) or an "edited copy" (shorter with key
comments identified). We also offer an optional short report (5-7 pages)
highlighting lessons learned.
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To find out more
about how Info.Design's experience can benefit your organization, e-mail
thom@thomhaller.com.
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