Our role was to plan and conduct the research process, analyze it, and compile the results. To evaluate the current design, we used three research methods:
Expert audit
Questionnaire survey
Task-based usability testing
Questionnaire Survey
The questionnaire, or survey, helped us gather various information about:
Design event participants:
How many events they attend annually
Which events they attend
Demographic data (age, gender, place of residence)
Content on the website:
What users were searching for
Whether any information was difficult to find, and if so, what kind
The ticket purchase process
Expert Audit
The website was tested in both desktop and mobile versions. We paid attention to the solutions applied and how they performed on each platform. During the audit, we used several scenarios to trace the user journey as they tried to accomplish their goals on the website.
Usage scenarios:
Finding an event and registering for it
Creating a „Moje GDD” account
Selecting a workshop and purchasing tickets
We reviewed:
The structure and hierarchy of information
Functionalities used on the website
Visual consistency and aesthetics
Contrast and readability
Communication tone
The flow of individual processes
Accessibility for visually impaired users
Task-Based Usability Testing
This method allowed us to collect qualitative data on users’ experiences as they interacted directly with the website. We had the chance to understand their emotions, the challenges they faced while completing tasks, and to hear their feedback, suggestions, and ideas for improving the website and enhancing task completion.
5 test users
4 interconnected scenarios
Over 150 minutes of video material
What We Gained:
We saw firsthand what users missed or overlooked on the website
We identified the problems users faced and how they solved them
We understood users’ emotions and how these impacted their ability to achieve the site’s goals
We gathered insights and valuable, in-depth feedback
We empirically validated assumptions about how users interact with specific features
Summary
We had to complete the entire research cycle within a narrow timeframe. We had 24 days to design the questionnaire, prepare the scenarios, recruit test users, conduct the audit, and carry out usability testing.
During this time, we completed the following:
A questionnaire survey with dozens of users, which primarily helped us measure the frequency of certain behaviors on the site and gather information on the age groups and cities from which Gdynia Design Days participants originated.
An expert audit that identified friction points between users and the interface, allowing us to define the difficulties they encountered. It also enabled us to verify the flow of event registration and ticket purchases, and identify best practices to improve these processes.
Task-based usability testing with 5 users, which provided high-quality insights directly from those using the website, helping us discover issues we might not have noticed ourselves.
A final report on the full research cycle, which contained a detailed analysis of the site’s sections, functionalities, and processes necessary for goal achievement, as well as a set of recommendations to improve specific areas.
Completing this research cycle within such a short period was made possible by the quick decision-making of the PPNT team and our focused approach and experience. Running certain activities in parallel was essential to meeting the deadline. Our experience and broad knowledge of research methods, and the ability to combine them for the desired outcomes, contributed to our success in completing the task.
In the end, we prepared a set of issues to be addressed and changes to be implemented that would tailor the website to meet users’ needs and expectations. As a result, the client received a clear list of guidelines and recommendations, allowing them to take concrete actions to optimize the site, improving its efficiency and user-friendliness.
