Best practice in design on NREN websites A heuristic evaluation made for TERENA TF-PR February 2004 By Julia Gardner & Gitte Kudsk, UNIC.

Best practice in design on NREN websites

A heuristic evaluation made for TERENA TF-PRFebruary 2004

By Julia Gardner & Gitte Kudsk, UNI•C

2

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

3

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 Practice on howto set up and maintain an NREN website.

The leaders of the deliverable will look at thecurrent websites of the NRENs and make anassessment, for a report to be given at the next meeting in February, and will also prepare a report/presentation at this time.

4

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

5

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”).

6

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

8

Results

• Accessibility• Navigation• Content

9

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

10

11

Every non-text element should have a text equivalent

12

All information must be available without colour

13

Results

• Accesibility• Navigation• Content

14

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

•Site logos should link to the homepage

15

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

16

Use the menu to clearly indicate where a certain page belongs

17

Give the content a useable date

18

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

19

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

20

Do not use animation to attract attention

21

Avoid “pogo sticking”

List of services

•Booking service•Videoconferencing service•Technology service•Training courses

Booking service

Xxx xxxx xxxxxXxx xxxx xxxxx

Videoconferencing service

Xxx xxxx xxxxxXxx xxxx xxxxx

22

Avoid “pogo sticking” - example

23

Design should be consistent across the site

24

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

25

Results

• Accesibility• Navigation• Content

”Conte

nt is k

ing”

26

Make it clear to the user what is the purpose of your site- 1

27

Make it clear to the user what is the purpose of your site- 2

28

Offer direct access from the homepage to topics of special interest

29

Inform about problems from the homepage

30

A site map on the homepage is a concise introduction to your site

31

Include general contact information on the homepage

32

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

33

Use cross-linking

34

Clickable organisational charts

35

Customer support – helpdesk

36

News

37

Questions

? ?

?

?

??

?

?

38

Suggestion

• Read the rapport• Have a look at your own website• Can you do anything better?• Feel free to ask – [email protected]