user_test_tra_rob

=** Rob: Navigation, Labeling and Visual Identity **= The user subject will be asked to **navigate** through our website prototype to search for a particular faculty email. Although this may seem trivial, it is important for current and prospective students to contact faculty members. As well as efficient navigation, we will test proper **labeling of categories.**In addition, the user will be tested on the overall **visual identity experience** of the website. The mood the visual identity expresses is vital in the development of the Visual Arts Department Branding.
 * Test Script**
 * Navigation
 * Labeling of Categories
 * Visual Identity Experience

You are a current Visual Arts Student looking for Jonathan Edward's email address. Begin on the homepage and navigate through the website. //Were you able to find what you were looking for? Was is more difficult then you thought?//
 * Task 1 **

**Task 2** Navigate through the pages quickly, click through the website freely. //As a Visual Arts student, is this the way you like to be represented and showcased?//

//What do you want to find out and why it is important?// In this section of the User Testing study, we want to determine how individuals interacts with the interface through navigation, labeling and visual identity. By conducting this User Study we will hope to identify crucial technical and visual design issues. Discovery of any design related problems will be analyzed and address. It is important to examine navigation and labeling because within a large website such as the Visual Arts Website has a large amount of information and it is important for the user to understand **where they are inside the website.** In addition, when handling large amounts of information it is crucial to match labels with the appropriate content.
 * Decide Framework**
 * 1. Overall Goals**

**2. Explore the questions that need to be answered //What are the "big" questions you want answered that provide actionable insights? a) Does the overall website communicate that this is a Visual Arts Department Website? b) Does the Branding, image treatment and typography effectively communicate that this website is part of a Art Culture? c) When browsing the website, does the form and content of the website cater to Current and Prospective Students? d) Are the labeling of categories appropriately represent the content? Can you find what you are looking for? // **

//** 3. **// **Choose the evaluation paradigm and techniques to answer questions** //Provide a rationale for the selection of methods, for example, why select structured task instead of unstructured exploration// We will ask the user indirectly to find specific and then more broad information to get a sense of how the website communicates to the user. Also, we will ask the user generally **what they think is important to find on a Visual Arts website as well.** In addition, we will guide the user to a specific destination inside the website, and see how effectively and how fast they can find it. We will be recording this tasks to further examine any possible issues that may arise.

//Describe the testing environment, equipment and participants? Are there any possible concerns?// The testing environment will be monitored by myself//(Rob),// TJ and Amy in order to fully examine the user's interactions. We will be testing mostly using a laptop due to the amount of student's using them around the campus. It is important to focus on the amount of clicking by the user because increasingly user want to click less. In terms of design, some concerns may be that the amount of information the user will encounter might be unnecessary. We may have to 'trim the fat' of any design elements or content that will get in the way of the users experience.
 * 4. Identify the practical issues that must be addressed**

//Are there any ethical issues that you may encounter? How will you address these?// One of the major ethical issues that we may encounter is to make sure when we are recording the test subject that we **protect their identity**. Making sure the video does not display their face their face a very important ethical issue. Also, making sure that the consent forms are properly filled out and signed by the participant.
 * 5. Decide how to deal with the ethical issues**

Also, the test subject must feel comfortable participating in this user testing study so that we can properly record, document and analyze our findings. The user is volunteering their time to support our research. Maintaining a positive attitude is also important when conducting the study.

//Analysis and interpret the collected data to identify patterns or themes that emerge// a) Indirect: The evaluation process will be designed in part to guide the user indirectly to a destination in the website. This is important to test the range of the website, by generally asking the subject to locate general information will help tease out unexpected issues.** b) **Direct:** A more direct guide approach will help determine specific technical problems. //For example if the size of the font is too small too see, the user can directly communicate this to us so that this issue can be addressed.
 * 6. Evaluate, interpret and present the data**
 * Evaluating

**Interpretation Focusing only on the key problems that apply to the target audience must be represented clearly within the presentation document.

Presentation The format of the presentation document must be treated as though we are actually submitting it to the client. Two copies will be printed, one for the client and the other to David Gelb. ** //


 * The presentation must:**
 * **Clearly and effectively communicate the thoughts and opinions of the user subject.**
 * Communicate the target audience to the client and professor.
 * Style Guide: Visual Branding Materials and ways that a **non-designer might continue the branding of the Visual Arts Department**