Group Work: Website Design + Usability Analysis

1) Choose 2-3 sites from below to cross-compare:

2) Conduct a quick usability analysis/review of the following scenarios/tasks on your chosen 2-3 site(s):

  1. You are a do-it-yourself homeowner looking to add a stylish fire pit to your outdoor patio.
  2. You are a professional contractor looking to install a ceiling fan for a customer as part of a room remodel and you know the make and model number of the fan you want.
  3. You are a stay-at-home mom thinking about painting the kitchen, but you're not sure what color might look good and are looking for some color and/or interior design inspiration.
  4. You are a gardener wanting to plant cherry tomatoes and buy a new lawn mower.

3) While conducting your usabiltity analysis and review, generally consider, analyze, and discuss the following:

  1. Objectives, Branding, and Audience: What seem to be the objectives the site? How is the site branded? Who is the target audience for the site? Is there an audience who the site excludes? Are there special featuers and/or anything unique about the site and sets it apart from other sites and/or competitors?
  2. Information Architecture: How is information structured on the site? What is the site's basic information architecture? How are files and categories organized? Does the site apply a naming convention? What is the site's navigational scheme and structure? Is the site easy to navigate? Do you ever get lost or confused? Does the interface present information clearly? Does the interface allow for a logical flow of information? Can you easily accomplish any tasks that you might want to accomplish on the site? If yes, how did the site make it easy or obvious? If no, what got in your way?
  3. Design: What is the aesthetic look and feel of the site? Why do you suppose the designer choose this look and feel? Does the look and feel support a positive user experience? How do the design elements (composition, use of color, choice of fonts/typographic design, use of graphics and photos, textures, animation, sound, interactivity, video, etc.) function to reveal the themes and objectives of the site?

5) Rate and Share (with the class):

  1. Give each site a usability score from 1 - 5 (1 = poor and 5 = excellent) for each audience + scenario/task above. Make notes and provide a rationale for your score.
  2. Share your ratings and notes including your overall impression and assessment of the sites and their usability. What are your impressions of the audience(s) that the sites serve, the site's objectives, and how well or how poorly they accomplish these objectives. What are your thoughts about the designs ideas or solutions that were effective and/or ineffective (and why).