Usability Techniques for UX

Usability Techniques

Usability Techniques to Enhance User ExperienceFirecat Studio#WCSATX 20151

What Is Usability?Wikipedia says: The ease of use and learnability of a human-made object.

ISO: The extent to which a product can be used by specified users to achieve specified goals with effectiveness, efficiency and satisfaction in a specified context of use.

Whitney Quesenberys 5 Es of usability:

Effective, efficient, engaging, error-tolerant, easy to learn.

Dimensions of Usability:

ease of useuser friendlyEfficiencyEffectiveSatisfyingMemorablePleasureAccessibleLearnabilityFindabilityQualityUsefulnesserror-averse

2

Bad Usability Is Bad for BusinessA Usability Lab

One Way MirrorLab Rats (er, I mean ParticipantsTypically get paidExpensive

4A Usability Lab

Image: http://www.uxbooth.comJared Spool just

5A Usability Lab

Image: http://www.computeradvantage.us/newnan-coweta/One Way MirrorLab Rats (er, I mean ParticipantsTypically get paidExpensive

6A Usability LabImage: http://vsee.com

Google Hangout

7Who Does Usability?Strategist/MarketerInformation Architect (IA)DesignerDeveloperClientThe Usability Specialist, of course. OrA Heuristic is a rule of thumb.

AbbyTheIA Abby Covert85 Ws and the H

WHO are you trying to reach?

WHAT do you want them to do?

WHERE do they hang out (and where will they be taking action)?

WHEN will they understand enough, and be ready, for you to take them to the next phase?

WHY will they do what you want? (Hint: Because its aligned with their own goals and needs.)

HOW will you reach them?9User Persona

A Heuristic is a rule of thumb.

AbbyTheIA Abby Covert10User Persona

A Heuristic is a rule of thumb.

AbbyTheIA Abby Covert11User Scenario

Image: http://designingcx.com/tag/workshop/A User Scenario is a visual or narrative story of the experience youre designing step by step, from the users point of view.12

Customer Journey MapImage: http://craiggoebel.comA Heuristic is a rule of thumb.

AbbyTheIA Abby Covert13KEY CUSTOMER JOURNEY POINTSMost online experiences go through these key phases.

Focus design attention and 14FIND

WHO are you trying to reach?

WHAT do you want them to do?

WHERE do they hang out (and where will they be taking action)?

WHEN will they understand enough, and be ready, for you to take them to the next phase?

WHY will they do what you want? (Hint: Because its aligned with their own goals and needs.)

HOW will you reach them?15Card Sorting

Once on the SITE the sites layout, organization (Information Architecture) and navigation Design is the next hurdle to FIND.

Companies tend to organize their websites as THEY are organized.

Gain insights for organizing a website from users through this technique:Put all the pages or content elements on index cards (or sticky notes)Mix them up! A big, messy pile. Random.Can do Open or ClosedOPEN = the user makes piles. You ask them to label each pile.CLOSED = You provide categories and the user fits into those with a pile of I dont know where to put this.16Modern Usability Tools

Paper Prototypes

Easiest and cheapest way to go

Surprisingly effective

Cheaper than iterating code IF you are not a coder

I also use Acrobat files and the phone to conduct remote testing.18Heuristic Evaluations

A Heuristic is a rule of thumb.

AbbyTheIA Abby Covert19Silverback and Morae

Captures users face and screens!20

Open or Closed Card SortsDocumentation MUCH easierOptimalSort: Testing IAOptimal Workshops Optimal Sort is a drag-and-drop interface.

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Treejack: Testing NavigationTest Navigation Structure & Labels22ChalkmarkHeat Maps for Sketches, Wireframes, Design Comps or Screenshots

23Reporting ResultsKeep it shortTop findings w/video highlightsShowstoppers/CriticalityLow-hanging fruit

RESOURCES:Usability as a Conversation Greg BellWhy Do Usability Problems go Unfixed? Steve Krug and Caroline Jarrett

24Keep Content Providers In Mind

Learn More About Usability

Jakob NielsenSteve KrugJared SpoolJakob Nielsen sign up for his Alertboxes

Steve Krug a seminal book that makes a usability case your clients or sponsors will understand. Fun to read.

Jared Spool 26Easy Usability Tools to Start With5SecondTest Free and low-cost quick task-based tests.SurveyMonkey: Embed low- or high-fidelity designs (wireframes or comps) and ask questionsAdobe Acrobat Remote? Send your wireframes and comps and conduct a paper prototype session27

Learn More About UX StrategyFirecat First FridaysNoon 1:30 @ Peer 1

Feb: Pitch It! PR TipsMar: Journey MapsApr: Google Analytics28

Susan Price

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