Results of testing initial page designs

I developed my initial page designs and have showed them to three potential users. To do this I printed the pages and asked the users the following questions (from Krug 2006; 87):

• What site is this?
• What page are you on?
• What are the major sections of the site?
• What are your options at this level?
• Where are you in the scheme of things?
• How can you search?

I also asked them what they thought of the general layout and design...and got some really good responses! They were generally quite positive:

• All users understood that it was a site for mentoring female academics (though, admittedly, I did have to prompt them on this, but this is expected to come about more through the use of graphics and logo etc. rather than the actual design of the site. Nevertheless, they could all tell from the navigation structure that the site had to do with mentoring).

• The breadcrumbs and page headings identified the pages - they could all tell where they were in the heirachy

• The navigation structure identified all the major sections of the site to all users. However, I identified that there were some problems with the navigation structure, especially on the long pages (e.g. Resources). One user commented that there needed to be an easier way of getting around the page than scrolling - and I think I'll fix this problem with a 'back to top' link.

• Interestingly, they liked the fact that they did not have to go 'back' on the 'find a mentor' page to search again - that the search, results and specific results were all on the same page. I was cautious about this because I thought they might not like having to scroll so much - but I think the addition of a 'back to top' link should overcome this problem.

• The breadcrumbs and page headings made all users feel as if they knew where they were. All users understood the function of breadcrumbs.

• All users familiar with how to search, using the search button in the top right corner. Two of the users looked here intuitively for it, the other looked for a while on the main page but eventually found it.

The users also commented that they didn't like the 'login' bar and buttons on all the pages. They commented that it took up too much room and that it was ugly and unnecessary. This is really good feedback! I've decided to have a separate login page, with only a link to the logi from every page.