Usability

A Usability test provides knowledge of your users’ experience of:

• Content, design and functionality of the user interface
• Unsatisfied needs, a wish for new functionality
• Competing products

Interfazes helps your company create successful solutions by thoroughly testing your user interfaces. Usability testing – also known as user testing or think aloud test – uncovers challenges efficiently and we turn these challenges into concrete proposals for design solutions.

How we work

For your solution, we identify the users’ expectations and problems together. In that way we uncover everything from whether the user simply does not understand the purpose of the solution to difficulties with functionality for interaction or navigation, if the communication is unclear or if graphic elements are confusing.

• Usability Testing – We will customize the test to ‘real’ users worldwide fitting your solution. This provides the best basis for optimizing and targeting your products. We conduct usability testing using the think aloud method both when testing in our local test facilities and when testing remote with users all over the world using screen sharing software.
• Expert evaluation – Our UX Specialists use their expertise and experience to make a quick, efficient and professional review of your digital solution and provide practical advice and recommendations for improvement of usability.
• Workshop – We combine our experience in usability with your knowledge about your products and your audience. Together, we reach a user-friendly and targeted solution.

Usability methods

• Usability testing
• Think aloud test
• Remote test
• Live User Analysis
• Eye tracking
• Field studies

Information architecture

A well-structured information architecture makes content easily accessible and defines requirements for content and navigation to fit the needs of the users . This will produce loyal users and ensure a solid structure on a strong foundation for your solution.

Information architecture generally consists of three principles:

• Organizing the structure of the system
• Defining types of content and navigation
• Developing wireframes and prototypes

We have the expertise and experience to create a user friendly environment, and while we are doing the work, you and your team possess important knowledge about the target groups, market and products, all of which must be included in the foundation of the new solution.

How we work

• We build diagrams showing the overall hierarchical structure of a solution and organize the individual areas in a logical and intuitive way
• We define page types that identify unique areas, in order for design and layout to be configured in standard templates
• We create detailed wireframes that visualize the structure of individual pages in outline form. The wireframes are created on the basis of defined page types, and display functionality and placement of individual elements on each page

Wireframes may further provide the basis for a visual clickable prototype that demonstrates a consistent and navigable course of selected areas. Thus, providing the complete picture of the users’ navigation flow from start to finish for a given process.

Prospecting, card sorting, interviews, workshops, user involvement and agile development are just some of the methods Interfazes have to offer in the development of information architecture.

IA methods

• Prospecting
• Card sorting
• Interviews
• User involvement
• Agile development

Prototyping

A prototype allows for testing design and functionality before you invest in development. It is also rewarding to visualize ideas from workshops and meetings to ensure that everyone agrees on which direction development of the solution must take.

A simple interactive prototype is quickly created and easily updated for new ideas and requirements. The prototype reveals potential problems with design and usability, allowing you to customize your project before you invest in further development of the final solution.

How we work

Prototypes can be anything from clickable sketches to full operational workflows, which simulate advanced dynamic web technologies such as Javascript, Ajax, HTML5, Flash and Silverlight.

A well functioning prototype requires a well-structured information architecture and is developed on the basis of one or several workshops, where structure and functionality is discussed. Typically, it will be based on user scenarios or use cases, which are consistent throughout the process of the solution.

The prototype is typically composed of a series of clickable screens, showing a coherent sequence of selected areas. Illustrating how the navigation and interaction play together, it provides a deeper understanding of how the entire solution will operate in practice.

The prototype can also be used for subsequent user testing and provide alternative solutions that you want tested against each other.

The prototype is created on the basis of wireframes, but could include graphic design, thus providing a more realistic visual impression of the final solution.

Furthermore, Interfazes offers to prepare a detailed specification of the prototype, which can help clarify the functionality and interaction down to the smallest detail. This reduces the risk of failure in development and may serve as a basic requirement specification for the development team.

Prototype methods

• Wire frames
• Sketches
• Clickable prototypes

Concept and strategy

Interfazes develops the concept of your solution to make it fit your business goals, the needs of the users and your market position. We do this by looking at your underlying strategy and ask the right questions about where you want to go, and how, why and when you expect to achieve your goal. When developing new concepts, we also provide input for market trends, best practices and innovative ideas.

How we work

Web analysis

Web analysis is about optimizing your website and online marketing activities based on an understanding of your users’ behavior. The discipline has four main phases:

• Define the purpose and objective of your website
• Measure your website to find out if it meets that objective
• Analyze your data and explain why some areas might perform poorly
• Finally, optimize your website from your analytical conclusions

Web analysis is a continuous process – there will always be things to improve. Once you’ve achieved your goals, it is time to establish some new ones. Ultimately, web analysis is about creating a continuous optimization process.

How we work

• We identify your analytical needs based on your business strategy
• We prepare reports with short conclusions and action indicators - monthly, quarterly or yearly
• We perform in-depth analysis of your total web universe and related market activities when you need it
• We help you test changes or new initiatives, and demonstrate and increase ROI

Interfazes takes a starting point in your existing web analyses tool – such as Google Analytics, Adobe SiteCatalyst (Omniture) Netminers InSight, Webtrends, SiteImprove or SiteAnalyze – and use it as a stepping stone to develop and improve your website. This will also include an evaluation of the selected tool to find out whether or not it is suitable to identify your needs. Interfazes can also help find the right analysis tools, eg. if you need to collate usage statistics with surveys which reveal who the users are, what they want – and how satisfied they are with your website. Other needs may be identification and measurement of KPIs, or benchmarking your site against other sites in the same industry.

Web analysis methods

• Traffic meassurement – using for example Google Analytics, Adobe SiteCatalyst (Omniture), Netminers InSight, Webtrends eller SiteImprove SiteAnalyze
• Combined survey and traffic meassurement
• A/B test

Graphic design

Dress your concept or your prototype for real-life use. A successful interface design supports intuitive use of the solution and creates a positive user experience. We work closely with selected graphic designers who specialize in interface design, e.g. design of icons and navigation.

How we work

In collaboration with the development team the concept design is developed. Typically, the concept design consists of a design presentation to key areas in the solution, e.g. a front page and 2-3 sub pages. At this point in the process it is a good idea to test the style and tone on the users of the solution. The approved concept design forms the basis for subsequent development of the design in detail. Finally, the design is handed over as a design manual which specifies the design construction and use.

Design methods

• Concept design
• Test and evaluation of design
• Design manual