Huntsville County Public Library
USABILITY TESTING
Overview
PROJECT SCOPE
The Huntsville-Madison County Public Library website usability testing project aimed to evaluate and improve the website's usability and accessibility. As the oldest public library branch in Alabama, the site serves a wide range of users, providing information about collections, services, and events. The study's objective was to identify issues in navigation, user experience, and accessibility to enhance overall functionality for all users, particularly those with disabilities.
Timeframe: Fall 2023
Role: UX Researcher
Team Members: Kay Champagne
Shiva Vakili
Drew Yarbrough
Lizzy Young
Methods: Heuristic Analysis, Usability Testing
Tools: Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Zoom, Canva, Excel, Adobe InDesign
Caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer's face challenges like managing medications, scheduling appointments, tracking vital signs, and providing emotional support, often leading to isolation and stress.
The primary challenge of this project was designing an app that meets the needs of both professional and family caregivers, while being user-friendly, accessible, and adaptable to different caregiving styles. The app needed to simplify complex tasks, reduce stress, and improve collaboration with healthcare providers.
Key challenges included:
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Designing an intuitive interface for a diverse user base.
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Ensuring privacy and security for sensitive medical information.
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Balancing simplicity with comprehensive caregiving features.
ROLE
As a UX Researcher for this project, I played a pivotal role in identifying and addressing usability and accessibility issues on the Huntsville-Madison County Public Library website. My responsibilities spanned the entire research and analysis process, ensuring the study yielded actionable insights. Key aspects of my role included:
My role involved:
1. Research Planning and Strategy
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Collaborated with the team to define the research scope, goals, and deliverables.
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Selected appropriate methodologies, including heuristic analysis and usability testing, to comprehensively evaluate the website.
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Designed the testing plan to ensure that both usability and accessibility issues were thoroughly addressed.
2. Execution of Heuristic Analysis
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Applied WebAIM standards to assess the website for accessibility issues.
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Utilized the WAVE accessibility checker tool to identify errors like missing alt text, unordered lists, and redundant links.
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Documented findings with specific examples of accessibility barriers that impacted user experiences.
3. Usability Testing Coordination
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Organized usability testing sessions, selecting 11 participants (n=11) to represent a diverse user base.
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Conducted testing sessions using both in-person and remote (Zoom) methods.
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Created and administered pre-test and post-test questionnaires to gather demographic data, user expectations, and feedback on their experience.
4. Data Collection and Analysis
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Transcribed usability testing sessions using Trint software.
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Led the thematic analysis of collected data to identify key trends, pain points, and user behaviors.
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Synthesized insights into detailed findings, ensuring alignment with project objectives.
5. Reporting and Recommendations
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Co-developed a comprehensive report summarizing findings and offering actionable recommendations.
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Proposed specific design and structural improvements, including adding alt text, reorganizing navigation menus, and refining the search bar functionality.
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Presented findings to stakeholders in a clear and impactful manner, ensuring recommendations were practical and aligned with user needs.
6. Collaboration and Communication
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Worked closely with a multidisciplinary team (Shiva Vakili, Kay Champagne, Drew Yarbrough, and Lizzy Young) to ensure consistency and coherence throughout the research process.
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Maintained open lines of communication with team members to share insights, discuss challenges, and refine approaches.
Week One: Research & begin planning
Week Two: Wireframing
Week Three: UI Execution
Week Four: Project Wrap-up & Fine Details
TIMELINE
THE CHALLENGE
The main challenges identified were:
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Accessibility Issues: Missing alt text for images, improper use of unordered lists, and redundant links posed significant barriers for users with visual impairments or other disabilities.
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Usability Problems: Participants struggled with navigation, particularly due to a poorly functioning search bar, lack of content organization, and confusion regarding digital download options like Hoopla.
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Unintuitive Design: Some key sections of the website were not easily discoverable, leading users to rely on external sources like Google to find specific information.
Key challenges included:
Accessibility Issues: Missing alt text for images, improper use of unordered lists, and redundant links posed significant barriers for users with visual impairments or other disabilities.
-
Usability Problems: Participants struggled with navigation, particularly due to a poorly functioning search bar, lack of content organization, and confusion regarding digital download options like Hoopla.
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Unintuitive Design: Some key sections of the website were not easily discoverable, leading users to rely on external sources like Google to find specific information.
RESEARCH
PROTOTYPING
UI DESIGN
MAIN GOAL
Design an application specifically tailored to caregiver support for Alzheimer's patients. organizing medication management, daily routines, and fostering connections with caregivers
TIMELINE
Week One: Research & begin planning
Week Two: Wireframing
Week Three: UI Execution
Week Four: Project Wrap-up & Fine Details
UNDERSTANDING THE USER
Develop a detailed and empathetic user persona to guide the design of a product or service aimed at supporting caregivers of individuals with Alzheimer’s disease. The goal is to understand the caregiver's needs, challenges, and motivations to create user-centered solutions.
RESEARCH
Conducted user interviews with Alzheimer’s caregivers to gather insights about their daily routines, emotional challenges, and coping strategies.
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Analyzed data from secondary research (e.g., caregiver support forums, Alzheimer’s advocacy resources) to identify common themes
User Survey:
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I surveyed medical (nurses) and non-medical caregivers (family and friends) to understand their daily routines, challenges, and tech preferences. The survey focused on medication management, task delegation, emotional well-being, and communication needs.
Secondary Research
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I analyzed academic research, case studies, and caregiver testimonials to identify key pain points like medication tracking, task coordination, and emotional stress.
Persona Development:
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Based on survey results and research findings, I created a user persona: "Ellis," a 62-year-old retired nurse caring for her elderly mother. This persona helped guide design decisions, ensuring that the app met the users' practical needs while addressing their emotional and psychological concern.
Competitive Analysis:
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I also analyzed existing caregiving apps to understand the current market offerings and identify functionality and user experience gaps. This analysis informed the features and design elements that would set the app apart.
PERSONA
SCENARIO
IMPACT
Creating this persona enabled the design team to stay user-focused throughout the project. By understanding Patricia’s experiences, the team could empathize with real-world caregiving challenges and craft meaningful, supportive solutions tailored to her needs.
RESEARCH
PROTOTYPING
UI DESIGN
User Flow Explained
The Alzheimer’s caregiver app features a streamlined user flow designed for simplicity and efficiency. Users start at a central dashboard with quick access to key tools: Physician Link, Journal, Messages, Vitals, Medication, Calendar, and Patient Information. Each feature addresses specific caregiving needs, like tracking medications, organizing tasks, and monitoring health. Tools like Messages and Physician Link enable collaboration with family and healthcare providers, while Journal and Vitals support observation logging and health tracking. This flow ensures caregivers can manage responsibilities with ease and confidence.
The user flow is organized into five icons:
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Physicians
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Journal
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Messages
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Vitals
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Medication
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Calendar
Physician Link
Caregivers can communicate directly with physicians through the app, share patient updates, and request advice, ensuring better coordination of care.
Journal
The journal feature allows caregivers to record daily observations, noting changes in the patient’s behavior, mood, and physical condition, which can then be shared with healthcare providers.
Vitals Tracking
Caregivers can log and monitor key health metrics, such as blood pressure and heart rate, with visual graphs and alerts for any abnormalities.
Medication Management
The app allows caregivers to input, track, and receive reminders for medications, ensuring that they never miss a dose and can monitor medication adherence.
Journal
The journal feature allows caregivers to record daily observations, noting changes in the patient’s behavior, mood, and physical condition, which can then be shared with healthcare providers.
Calendar and Appointments
The integrated calendar organizes appointments, caregiving tasks, and events, with customizable reminders to keep caregivers on track.
USER FLOW
WIREFRAMES
RESEARCH
PROTOTYPING
UI DESIGN
CONCLUSION
The creation of Ellis Foster as a persona provided the foundation for understanding the day-to-day struggles of Alzheimer’s caregivers. Her emotional journey, professional background, and caregiving challenges directly influenced the design decisions for the Alzheimer’s caregiver app. This persona allowed me to develop an intuitive, supportive, and effective solution tailored to the needs of caregivers like Patricia, ensuring the app addressed both practical caregiving tasks and emotional well-being. By grounding the design in the real-life experiences of caregivers, the app aims to provide meaningful support and enhance the caregiving process.
