Best practice in design on NREN websites

1. Best practice in design on NREN websites A 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

2. Best practice – for whom? Demand from the economics department Suggestion from the design department What the sales department thinks is Best Practice What the customer needs Result from the production department

3. Purpose of the evaluation As a delivery for the TERENA Task Force in Public Relations thepurpose of the survey of NREN websites is to find Best Practise onhow toset up and maintain an NREN website.

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 usability principles

5. A heuristic evaluation A usability inspection where usabilityspecialists examine the user interface and judge whether eachelement complies with a list of established usability principles (the“heuristics”).

6. Accessibility • Is it possible for people with any kind of disability to use the website Usability = User friendliness + Usefulness (relevance) • 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.

7. 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. Every non-text element should have a text equivalent

11. All information must be available without colour

12. Results • Accesibility • Navigation • Content

13. All pages must include a clearly visible link to the • homepage • Site logos should link to the homepage

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

15. Use the menu to clearly indicate where a certain page belongs

16. Give the content a useable date

17. 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

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

19. Do not use animation to attract attention

20. Service 1 Xxx xxxx xxxxx Xxx xxxx xxxxx • List of services • Service 1 • Service 2 • Service 3 • Service 4 Service 4 Xxx xxxx xxxxx Xxx xxxx xxxxx Avoid “pogo sticking”

21. Avoid “pogo sticking” - example

22. Design should be consistent across the site

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

24. Results ”Content is king” • Accesibility • Navigation • Content

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

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

27. Homepage Offer direct access to topics of special interest

28. Homepage Inform about problems

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

30. Homepage Include general contact information on the homepage

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

32. Use cross-linking

33. Clickable graphics/organisational charts

34. News

35. Finally - Why is usability important? • ”The competitors” site is only a click away • Involving the user is preparing for the future

36. ? Questions ? ? ? ? ? ? ?