First thing about this last assignment is that I was amazed at how my observations about what would or would not be an issue with the chosen website, were different from what the users I selected had to say about the site.
I tend to be very picky in regards to finding the most obscure things out that in my opinion should be redone. However, when performing the usability test with the three users, their insights into how the flow of the page was, and the accessibility of the pages, did seem to make my points moot.
The other observation I saw was that each user had their own way of using the website. There were instances where they used a certain link, or page to get the desired results, however In at least two instances, they went about it a totally different way from one another.
And the heuristic evaluation that I did prior to the usability test, seemed to allay some of those points. However I still feel strongly that those issues should be addressed, but the severity and timeline of when they should be completed has changed.
As this class comes to a close, I am grateful for the opportunity to expand my learning in the field of web design. I have gained much insight into website development, and will continue to use the materials that were provided to me. The “Usability Testing Essentials”, “Designing with the Mind in Mind”, as well as “Don’t Make me Think” were invaluable resources to use while completing the assignments. And I hope to use the resources in the future for not only school projects, but perhaps in my career as well.