Skip to main content

UX Study Note 5: Usability Evaluation Techniques

What is the purpose of usability evaluation? When would you like to consider using usability? What are the key techniques to conduct usability evaluation?

Key Study Notes for the Course:
What is the purpose of usability evaluation?
The purpose behinds usability evaluation is to ensure the design is fit for purpose. You might want to use usability when you were accessing the usability of an existing website, refining the design or embarking a new design.
Key Techniques of Usability Evaluation:
  • Usability walkthrough
It is an informal way to doing usability evaluation. It often involves a rough mock up.
  • Usability testing
Usability testing is often done in a controlled environment and  using real users of the website. It is one on one session. The idea is to reveal usability issues early and help recommend fixes to the design.
Five phases of a usability testing:
  • Introduction and formalities
  • Pre-test session: give some questionnaires to fill out
  • Crux of the testing: give users some scenarios
  • Post-test: find what they did
  • Debrief: what happen after the test
  • Expert Review
It is also called heuristic evaluation which involves best practice guidelines for website
The goal is to be thinking about your user goals and business goals.
  • Competitor analysis
The whole idea is to pick the best from each website to help build a strategy to improve your website.

Learning Insight:
When you plan to conduct usability evaluation, you need to be clear about the purpose (address the issue, refine the design, or create a new design), think about the scope,  users’ needs, context, and budget.
After you complete the usability evaluation, you need to analyze the cause of the problem, the patterns of user behaviors, and then speak with your clients about the key findings.

Comments

Popular posts from this blog

Starbucks: Three Main Benefits For Writing Customer Name On The Cup

Whenever I order a small Starbucks coffee, I am always asked "What's your first name?" by a cashier. Even I was the only person to order, they still asked my name. Not only Starbucks, now many other bubble tea brands such as Vivi, Coco, Gong Tea also start calling customer's names. Why does Starbucks write customer name on the cup? What're the benefits to do that? Image from writingelves.com Self-Promotion In the beginning, Starbucks wrote customer names because they received too many orders. Marking down names would prevent mistakes. Later on, Starbucks found that writing names do not only improve work efficiency but also increase brand awareness.   Sometimes (most times) Starbucks spell the wrong name. You think customers will get angry? Actually no. In contrast, people feel Starbucks is not only a coffee shop but also a coffee shop with its own personality.  Image From Memeguy Some customers also make fun with Starbucks. They come up with...

Just Eat:" No Match Is A Wrong Match"

A lot of us are struggling to find our true love. However, when we finally find the right one, the relationship may not always have a happy ending. Many people, like my parents' generation, think love is only between a man and a woman. They are very hard to accept "man-man" or "woman-woman" or couple from different cultures.  Whenever I say we should respect all kinds of relationships, my parents think I have a problem. Overall, I need to be fixed.  Because of those judgement and bias, some people have to hide their true feelings of love. They don't have enough courage to tell the truth because they think no one will  understand them. The most important, they don't want get hurt. The sponsor of Milan Pride 2019, Just Eat App  created a special love story between a slice of pizza and a pineapple. This Ad "Just Amore" is calling on everyone should have freedom choice no matter with relationship or meal. Brief Story: One...

What’s to Expect: Two Limited McDonald’s Signature Crafted Burgers Are Just Launched in China

Recently, McDonald’s teamed up with superstar Nicholas Tse and star chef Ramón Freire to launch limited signature crafted burgers in China. Each star created one special burger and named after himself. This time, McDonald’s brings  “Nicholas Cool Spicy Chicken Burger” and “Ramón Crispy Beef Burger”. Nicholas Cool Spicy Chicken Burger From the McDonald Chinese Official Website Ramón Crispy Beef Burger From the McDonald Chinese Official Website In addition, McDonald’s adds limited “Honey Mustard Fries” and “Nicholas Cookies Bubble Tea” as afternoon tea choices. Honey Mustard Fries From the McDonald. CN Cookie Bubble Tea from McDonalds.cn This is not the first time for McDonald’s to team up with superstars to launch signature crafted burgers. Last year, McDonald’s teamed up with star chef Ramón Freire to create two premium burgers: “Mexico BBQ Chicken Burger” and ” Egg Beef Burger with Creamy Nut Sauce”. From Sohu News According t...