Website Usability Report

Website Usability Report www.mattbrubaker.vze.com

Matt Brubaker Writing for the Web 12-4-07 Executive Summary I spent approximately three months constructing a personal portfolio website.

This website will function as an interactive resume for prospective employers. This type of website will be useful to me because it will allow me to easily share my artwork and designs with anyone, anywhere, anytime. It will also act as a piece in my portfolio and demonstrate the diversity of my design skills to employers.

Since this website could be a determinant in me being hired somewhere it must pass a usability test. A test was conducted to determine the learnability, efficiency, and memorability of the website. The test also tested for errors and user satisfaction.

Three users were selected to perform in the usability test. Each user was given a computer with two windows open. The first window had a survey that the users would fill out while browsing the website on the second window. The survey allowed the users to grade the website usability through multiple questions. While the users browsed the website they were monitored by the administrator. Once the survey was completed each user was asked a serious of questions to determine how they felt about the website overall.

The results of the survey showed that two out of three users rated the overall usability at a perfect ten. Three out of three users found it very easy to navigate through the site. And three out of three users believed that employers would be impressed by the website.

2 Introduction As a senior graduating in the spring, I am about to join many other students in the search for my first “real” job. I want to get a job as a graphic designer for a publication or an advertising agency. This is a very competitive field and to get the edge over other graduating students I need a portfolio that stands out.

When applying for this type of position, most employers will request design examples. The standard method of providing these is by mailing or dropping off copies for the employer. This method is slow and can put you behind the competition. That is why I built a portfolio website.

This website will function as an interactive resume for prospective employers.

This type of website will be useful to me because it will allow me to easily share my artwork and designs with anyone. It will also act as a piece in my portfolio and demonstrate the diversity of my design skills to employers.

Website Description The website consists of five pages. The home page contains a brief summary about me, and recent news. The resume page features my experience and a downloadable version of my resume. The profile page has a short profile about me as a designer. The portfolio page contains fine art, advertisements, designs, and photographs that users can enlarge to view. Finally, the contact page gives my contact information.

Test Objectives The purpose of this usability test is to see how users interact with the website and to test for:

 Learnability (How easily users can accomplish tasks the first time)

3  Efficiency (How quickly users can perform tasks)

 Memorability (How easily users can reestablish proficiency when returning to

the site)

 Errors (Anything that effects the usability of the site)

 Satisfaction: (How pleasant it is to use the site)

Method

PARTICIPANTS Three users were selected to perform in the usability test. User number one is a graphic designer in his late twenties who has experience with going through the hiring process. Users two and three are seniors in their early twenties currently going through the job-hunting process. User one has graphic and web design experience, but users two and three do not.

TESTING ENVIRONMENT Each user used the same Apple Power Book G4 to perform the test. Only two

Firefox windows were open. The first contained the website, and the second contained the survey. Each user took turns sitting at the computer on a desk in a room with no distractions while the administrator observed.

TEST ADMINISTRATOR TOOLS A survey was created on www.survey.vt.edu and administered to each participant.

The survey can be found in Appendix A.

4 TESTING PROCEDURE One user at a time was sat in front of the computer. The administrator then instructed them to read and answer the survey while browsing the site. The participants were told to view the site as if it were any normal website.

As the users browsed the site the administrator watched from behind and took notes on their behavior. Once the users looked through the entire site and answered all the survey questions the administrator asked them a few more questions about their experience with the website. The participant was then asked to leave and the next participant was brought in.

Results User one completed the procedure in approximately five minutes. User two and three did it in approximately eight to ten minutes. Once the surveys were complete the answers could be calculated on www.survey.vt.edu. The results of the survey showed that all users were able to determine the purpose of the site right away. The home, resume, profile, and contact pages each received an average usability rating of 9.6 out of

10. The profile page received an average usability rating of 9.3. All three users said that it was very easy to navigate through the site. All three users agreed that employers would find the site to be a useful representation of the 10 9 administrator. All three users also thought that employers would be impressed by the website. The website received an overall usability rating of 9.6 out of 10.

5 Every user felt that the site was very easy to navigate and therefore would be just as easy to use the second time around. None of them were able to point out any errors based on viewing the site once. Also, every participant performed the procedures without needing to seek assistance.

While watching the users it seemed that the only thing they were having difficulty with was the gallery on the portfolio page. The two users without design experience had trouble figuring out how to close an image once they opened it. But it only took them about five to ten seconds to figure it out and they did not have a problem from that point on. Every user said they were satisfied with the website and when asked if they would come back to it they all said yes.

Conclusion The usability report determined that the site will function for its purpose to impress employers. The site received almost perfect usability ratings for every page.

Overall, the users seemed to browse through the website very easily and only struggled some with the gallery. Some modifications can be made to the gallery to make it easier to use. Overall, the usability test was a success and determined that the site is ready to share with employers.

6 Appendix A