Portfolio
Conservation App - Usability Research
Enhancing Usability for state and local Conservation and Environmental Researchers
Challenge
Two existing web-based systems were developed to help state and local conservationists and environmental researchers track geographic areas where studies had been conducted and monitor the ongoing evolution of ecosystems. However, feedback from the conservationists and researchers highlighted that the systems were cumbersome and time-consuming, negatively impacting their workflow and productivity.
The systems were not as intuitive as they needed to be, leading to inefficiencies in how users navigated and interacted with the platform. Researchers and conservationists were struggling to accomplish tasks quickly and efficiently, which was hindering their ability to perform the critical work required for their field studies. As a result, usability research was requested by the stakeholders to identify the root causes of these issues and propose solutions for improvement.
Solution
Garofalo UX was engaged to conduct a comprehensive usability research study to identify the underlying usability and accessibility issues within the systems. The study aimed to provide actionable insights for improving the user experience and making the platforms more efficient for their users.
Key components of the solution included:
- Heuristic Evaluation: A heuristic evaluation was performed on the existing systems to identify usability issues according to recognized usability principles. This evaluation helped to pinpoint areas where users would struggle and where the design fell short of industry best practices.
- Research Study Plan: A research study plan was developed to guide the usability assessment. The plan outlined objectives, the methodology for the study, participant criteria, and key tasks to be tested.
- Usability Study (Observational Facilitator): A usability study was conducted with seven conservationists who were already familiar with the systems. The study was scenario-based, where participants were tasked with completing specific actions within the system. Observational research methods were used to understand how the users interacted with the interface, identifying points of friction and inefficiencies in the process.
Deliverables
- Heuristic Evaluation Report: A report highlighting the findings of the heuristic evaluation, identifying key usability flaws and offering recommendations for improvement.
- UX Research Plan: A structured document outlining the objectives of the usability study, methodology, participant details, and specific tasks for each test scenario.
- Usability Study Report (Observational Findings): A comprehensive report documenting the results of the observational usability study, including insights into user behavior, pain points, and proposed solutions to address usability issues.