Best practice in design on NREN websites

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

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 Practice onhow toset up and maintain an NREN website. The leaders of the deliverable will look at the current websites of the NRENs and make an assessment, for a report to be given at the nextmeeting in February, and will also prepare areport/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 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

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. Booking service Xxx xxxx xxxxx Xxx xxxx xxxxx • List of services • Booking service • Videoconferencing service • Technology service • Training courses Videoconferencing service Xxx xxxx xxxxx Xxx xxxx xxxxx Avoid “pogo sticking”

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 ”Content is king” • Accesibility • Navigation • Content

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 – gitte.julin.kudsk@uni-c.dk