best practice in design on nren websites

Best practice in design on NREN websitesA heuristic evaluation made for TERENA TF-

PR

By Julia Gardner & Gitte Kudsk, UNI•C Julia.gardner@uni-c.dk & gitte.kudsk@uni-c.dk

Presentation for TERENA GA 10.06.2004

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TERENA GA 10.06.2004

Best practice – for whom?

What the sales department thinks is Best Practice

What the customer needs

Suggestion from the design department

Demand from the economics department

Result from the production department

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Purpose of the evaluation

As a delivery for the TERENA Task Force inPublic Relations the purpose of the survey ofNREN websites is to find Best Practise on howto set up and maintain an NREN website.

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Ways to make an evaluation of a website

Qualitative user evaluations• Usability test• Field study• Workshops

Quantitative user evaluations• Questionnaires

Expert evaluation based on a list of established usabilityprinciples

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A heuristic evaluation

A usability inspection where usability specialists examine the user

interface and judge whether each element complies with a list of

established usability principles (the “heuristics”).

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Usability = User friendliness + Usefulness

(relevance)•Accessibility

– Is it possible for people with any kind of disability to use the website

•Navigation– Is it possible for any user to find the information he is looking for

•Content– Is it possible for the user to understand and use the information on the website. Is the information on the website relevant for the user.

Results of the evaluation

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Results

• Accessibility• Navigation• Content

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Every frame and page should have an unique title, so that identification and navigation is easier

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Every non-text element should have a text equivalent

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All information must be available without colour

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Results

• Accesibility• Navigation• Content

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•All pages must include a clearly visible link to the homepage

•Site logos should link to the homepage

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Provide access to the main menu from all parts of the site

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Use the menu to clearly indicate where a certain page belongs

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Give the content a useable date

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Write for the net

• Make sentences short and precise• Label sections to allow the user to scan the page easily

• Write less• Start with the conclusion

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Do not write text in a different colour unless it is a link

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Do not use animation to attract attention

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Avoid “pogo sticking”

List of services

•Service 1•Service 2•Service 3•Service 4

Service 1

Xxx xxxx xxxxxXxx xxxx xxxxxService 4

Xxx xxxx xxxxxXxx xxxx xxxxx

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Avoid “pogo sticking” - example

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Design should be consistent across the site

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Search results should offer sufficient information to allow the user to make an informed choice

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Results

• Accesibility• Navigation• Content

”Conte

nt is k

ing”

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Homepage

Make it clear to the user what is the purpose of your site

- 1

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Homepage

Make it clear to the user what is the purpose of your site

- 2

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Homepage

Offer direct access to topics of special interest

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Homepage

Inform about problems

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Homepage

A site map on the homepage is a concise introduction

to your site

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Homepage

Include general contact information on the homepage

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Avoid organizing the material on the web according to your own organisation

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Use cross-linking

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Clickable graphics/organisational charts

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News

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Finally - Why is usability important?

• ”The competitors” site is only a click away• Involving the user is preparing for the

future

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Questions

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