Web Site UsabilityWeb Site Usability

Benefits of planning Benefits of planning usabilityusability

Increased user satisfaction, which translates directly to trust and Increased user satisfaction, which translates directly to trust and brand loyaltybrand loyalty

Increased user productivity, success, and completion (and sales)Increased user productivity, success, and completion (and sales)

Reduced long-term development costs (costs incurred from fixing Reduced long-term development costs (costs incurred from fixing design mistakes)design mistakes)

Reduced training and support costsReduced training and support costs

Word of mouth, social media, and other free marketingWord of mouth, social media, and other free marketing

Positive press coveragePositive press coverage

A higher rate of repeat customers, which improves your A higher rate of repeat customers, which improves your competitivenesscompetitiveness

A Model of Pervasive A Model of Pervasive Usability in Website Usability in Website DesignDesign1.1. Requirements analysisRequirements analysis

2.2. Conceptual designConceptual design

3.3. Mockups / prototypesMockups / prototypes

4.4. ProductionProduction

5.5. Launch and maintenanceLaunch and maintenance

1. Requirements 1. Requirements AnalysisAnalysis

Identify stakeholders, and understand their roles as they pertain Identify stakeholders, and understand their roles as they pertain to the project.to the project.

Determine the goals for the website from the perspective of the Determine the goals for the website from the perspective of the user and the business.user and the business.

Determine the user needs and target usability requirements.Determine the user needs and target usability requirements.

Evaluate existing versions of the site, noting legacy features.Evaluate existing versions of the site, noting legacy features.

Perform a competitive analysis.Perform a competitive analysis.

Perform user interviews and surveys.Perform user interviews and surveys.

Conceptual DesignConceptual DesignCreate a Content Inventory to account for all expected site Create a Content Inventory to account for all expected site content.content.

Sketch out a site design and architecture at an abstract level.Sketch out a site design and architecture at an abstract level.

Build low-fidelity Wireframes for various pages of the website to Build low-fidelity Wireframes for various pages of the website to initiate design discussions, and conduct user testing.initiate design discussions, and conduct user testing.

Conduct a task analysis to discover critical user needs and Conduct a task analysis to discover critical user needs and preferences.preferences.

Based on user research analyses, model the user experience and Based on user research analyses, model the user experience and then specify requirements for usability, user experience, then specify requirements for usability, user experience, functionality, data, the environment, and accessibility.functionality, data, the environment, and accessibility.

Mockups/PrototypesMockups/PrototypesCreate a Site Map Diagram based on usability requirements to depict Create a Site Map Diagram based on usability requirements to depict the website’s optimal navigation and organization.the website’s optimal navigation and organization.

Choose an HCI design approach (Anthropomorphic, Cognitive, Choose an HCI design approach (Anthropomorphic, Cognitive, Predictive Modeling, or Empirical) for your prototype.Predictive Modeling, or Empirical) for your prototype.

Rapidly create visual representations (mockups) or interactive Rapidly create visual representations (mockups) or interactive representations (prototypes) of the site.representations (prototypes) of the site.

Evaluate usability through focus groups, user tests, and walkthroughs.Evaluate usability through focus groups, user tests, and walkthroughs.

Use the evaluation results to create more mockups or improve the Use the evaluation results to create more mockups or improve the prototypes.prototypes.

Repeat this process (design iteration) until the design and usability Repeat this process (design iteration) until the design and usability goals are met.goals are met.

ProductionProductionCollaborate with visual designers to develop high fidelity Collaborate with visual designers to develop high fidelity Prototypes and Screen Designs with actual content.Prototypes and Screen Designs with actual content.

Create the final product.Create the final product.

Evaluate functionality through testing, quality assurance, Evaluate functionality through testing, quality assurance, usability testing, and field-testing.usability testing, and field-testing.

Use the evaluation results to improve the product.Use the evaluation results to improve the product.

Repeat this process (production iteration) and perform Quality Repeat this process (production iteration) and perform Quality Assurance Testing until all specified requirements have been Assurance Testing until all specified requirements have been met, including: business, visual design, usability, user met, including: business, visual design, usability, user experience, and technical functionality requirements.experience, and technical functionality requirements.

Launch and Launch and MaintenanceMaintenance

Launch the website.Launch the website.

Maintain and refine with user feedback.Maintain and refine with user feedback.

Use the feedback to create new requirements, and begin major Use the feedback to create new requirements, and begin major design improvements (system iteration).design improvements (system iteration).