Tevin's UX Observation Journal

UX Observation Journal

Week 1

During my interaction with Discord, I observed the following:

Task: Navigating the support page

• Experience: When users access the support page, I experienced a challenge. Specifically, the visibility of Discord's system status diminishes once users encounter the "sign in" button. Furthermore, there are instances where the sign-in page appears partially, leading to the user needing clarification about whether their intended action has been successfully executed.
• This is an example of "Visibility of System Status." Users should be able to quickly locate and understand how to proceed with their intended action.
• To enhance the user experience, consider strategically repositioning the "sign in" button so that it doesn't obscure the visibility of Discord's system status information. This adjustment ensures that users can access vital operational updates while taking necessary actions.
• By addressing these challenges, Discord can significantly enhance the user experience on its support page, minimizing frustration and fostering a more seamless interaction for its users.

Week 2

During my interaction with YouTube, I observed the following:

Task: Navigating YouTube Studio

• Experience: While navigating the YouTube Studio, I need help posting videos. When I post the footage, sometimes the connection fails, and I only get an error message or something once it's too late, and I have to repost the video.  
• This is an example of "Visibility of System Status." Users should receive a big message stating that the connection failed while uploading. 
• To enhance the user experience, YouTube should add an uploads tab that shows everything currently going on while the video is uploaded. 
• By addressing these challenges, YouTube can make uploading better for users. Users would be able to see the upload speed and see if the upload stopped or not. 

Week 3

During my interaction with YouTube, I observed the following: 

Task: Navigating Gmail

Gmail Website UX Observation:

1. Visibility of System Status:

Suitable Use: Clear indicators for loading, sending, and receiving emails are provided.

Severity: 1

2. Match between the System and the Real World:

Suitable Use: Icons and labels are intuitive and correspond to standard email functionalities (e.g., "Compose" for writing a new email).

Severity: 1

3. User Control and Freedom:

Suitable Use: Users can easily navigate between folders, search, and undo actions (e.g., undoing email deletion).

Severity: 1

4. Consistency and Standards:

Reasonable Use: The layout and placement of email threads, labels, and folders adhere to standard email client design practices.

Severity: 1

5. Error Prevention:

Suitable Use: Gmail prompts users with a confirmation dialog before permanently deleting an email.

Severity: 1

6. Recognition Rather than Recall:

Suitable Use: All functions are clearly labeled and easily accessible, reducing the need for users to remember specific commands.

Severity: 1

7. Flexibility and Efficiency of Use:

Suitable Use: Users can quickly navigate between emails, apply filters, and use keyboard shortcuts for efficiency.

Severity: 1

8. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design:

Reasonable Use: The interface is clean and organized and focuses on presenting emails clearly.

Severity: 1

9. Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors:

Suitable Use: Gmail provides clear error messages with suggestions for resolution (e.g., email sending failures).

Severity: 1

10. Help and Documentation:

Suitable Use: Gmail's Help Center is accessible from the settings menu.

Severity: 1

Week 4

Task: Navigating the Goat Shoe website

Goat Shoe Website UX Observation: 1. Visibility of System Status: Violation: The loading indicator must be clearly visible, potentially causing user confusion. Severity: 1 2. Match between the System and the Real World: Suitable Use: Icons and navigation labels are intuitive and correspond to common shoe-shopping terminology. Severity: 1 3. User Control and Freedom:

Suitable Use: Users can easily navigate back to previous pages or refine search results. Severity: 1

4. Consistency and Standards:

Reasonable Use: The layout and placement of product images and details adhere to standard e-commerce design practices. Severity: 1 5. Error Prevention: Violation: There is no confirmation prompt for finalizing a purchase, which could lead to accidental orders. Severity: 2 6. Recognition Rather than Recall:

Suitable Use: All filtering and sorting options are clearly displayed, reducing the need for users to remember specific commands. Severity: 1 7. Flexibility and Efficiency of Use: Suitable Use: Users can quickly filter and sort products based on various criteria, enhancing efficiency. Severity: 1 8. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design:

Reasonable Use: The website has a clean, visually appealing design showcasing the products. Severity: 1 9. Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors: Suitable Use: Error messages are clear and guide how to correct the issue. Severity: 1 10. Help and Documentation:

Violation: Access to customer support or help resources is not immediately visible on the page. Severity: 2

Week 5

Task: Exploring the Amazon website

Amazon Website UX Observation: 1. Visibility of System Status:

Suitable Use: Clear loading indicators are present for product pages and during checkout. Severity: 1 2. Match between the System and the Real World:

Suitable Use: Icons and labels are intuitive and correspond to common e-commerce terminology (e.g., "Add to Cart" for adding products to the shopping cart). Severity: 1

3. User Control and Freedom:

Suitable Use: Users can easily navigate to previous pages, refine searches, and adjust their cart contents. Severity: 1 4. Consistency and Standards:

Suitable Use: The placement of some buttons "Proceed to Checkout" shows throughout shopping pages once a product in the cart Severity: 1 5. Error Prevention:

Suitable Use: Amazon prompts users with confirmation dialogs for critical actions like deleting items from the shopping cart. Severity: 1 6. Recognition Rather than Recall:

Suitable Use: All filtering and sorting options are clearly displayed, reducing the need for users to remember specific commands. Severity: 1 7. Flexibility and Efficiency of Use: Suitable Use: Users can quickly filter and sort products based on various criteria, enhancing efficiency. Severity: 1 8. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design:

Reasonable Use: The website has a clean and visually appealing design, focusing on product images and details. Severity: 1 9. Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors:

Suitable Use: Error messages are clear and guide how to correct the issue (e.g., invalid payment information during checkout). Severity: 1 10. Help and Documentation:

Suitable Use: Access to customer support, FAQs, and help resources is prominently displayed in the footer section. Severity: 1

Week 6

GameStop:

1. Visibility of System Status:

Feedback: GameStop's website provides clear feedback on the system status. It loads quickly and displays relevant information. Severity: 1

2. Match between System and the Real World:

Feedback: The terminology and navigation on the GameStop website align well with users' real-world expectations for a gaming retailer. Severity: 1 3. User Control and Freedom:

Feedback: Users can easily navigate through the website and can return to the previous page using the browser's back button. Severity: 1 4. Consistency and Standards:

Feedback: Gamestop maintains consistency in terms of layout, navigation, and labeling throughout the website. Severity: 1 5. Error Prevention:

Feedback: The website provides clear instructions during the checkout process to prevent accidental mistakes. Severity: 1 6. Recognition rather than Recall: Feedback: The navigation menu and layout make it easy for users to find what they're looking for without having to remember specific details. Severity: 1 7. Flexibility and Efficiency of Use:

Feedback: GameStop provides different search options and filters to help users find products efficiently, catering to both casual and expert users. Severity: 1 8. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design:

Feedback: The design is relatively clean and focused on products, but it could benefit from a more modern and visually appealing layout.

I would make it easier for users by giving them a option to pick what genre they are looking for before taking them to the main product screen. Severity: 2 9. Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors:

Feedback: GameStop provides clear error messages with instructions on how to correct them during the checkout process. Severity: 1 10. Help and Documentation:

Feedback: There's no search bar and FAQ section it could be more prominently displayed for easier access to help resources.

The addition of a search bar will make it easier for users to find answers to problems they are going through. Severity: 2

Week 7

Soundcloud:

1. Visibility of System Status:

Feedback: Soundcloud's website provides clear feedback on system status. It loads quickly and displays relevant information. Severity: 1 2. Match between System and the Real World:

Feedback: The terminology and navigation on Soundcloud align well with users' real-world expectations for a music streaming platform. Severity: 1 3. User Control and Freedom:

Feedback: Users can easily navigate through the website and can return to the previous page using the browser's back button. Severity: 1 4. Consistency and Standards: Feedback: Soundcloud maintains consistency in terms of layout, navigation, and labeling throughout the website. Severity: 1 5. Error Prevention:

Feedback: The website provides clear instructions during the upload process to prevent accidental mistakes. Severity: 1 6. Recognition rather than Recall:

Feedback: The navigation menu and layout make it easy for users to find what they're looking for without having to remember specific details. Severity: 1 7. Flexibility and Efficiency of Use:

Feedback: Soundcloud provides different ways to discover and search for music, catering to both casual listeners and music enthusiasts. Severity: 1 8. Aesthetic and Minimalist Design:

Feedback: Soundcloud has a clean and visually appealing design focused on music. It's well-organized and easy on the eyes. Severity: 1 9. Help Users Recognize, Diagnose, and Recover from Errors:

Feedback: Soundcloud provides clear error messages with instructions on how to correct them during the upload process. Severity: 1 10. Help and Documentation:

Feedback: Soundcloud offers a Help Center and FAQs which are easily accessible, providing adequate support to users. Severity: 1

Week 7