Using the Heuristic Evaluation method by reviewing a design against a specific list of guidelines, we assess your design agaist proven design principles.
Method
We provide you with an independent and expert assessment of your user experience. Independent reviews are important because they allow companies or people to identify different problems which they otherwise might have missed. The outside view is not just more objective; it’s free of the preconceptions of people who have worked on your project for years. Our methods involve the use of the heuristic evaluation methodology.
Our final results are provided in a single report that takes into account the recommended improvements for the design. This is based on the synthesis of the results, the assessment of the list and the delivery of solutions.
Our results are not based on the internal policies or suggestions that might initially have arisen in your company. Instead, as outside experts, we offer an unbiased and frank appraisal and verdict on what counts as the best the design as applies to users.
Our experience makes us highly qualified in identifying the key areas that will improve the interaction results with users as well as those that will be less than effective.
Who can use our services?
Our services are open to companies who wish to have their intranet, website or application reviewed by experts in the field of usability inspection. Having these products or services reviewed allows companies to identify their new strategy or direction on how to improve the experience of users. Our independent position allows us to provide fresh perspectives that company designers might initially have missed.
Our services can also be used by people who merely wish to have an independent assessment done on their user experience during a specified period. This might be for the purposes of risk reduction or some other business related need.
For people who might only require feedback and assessment on only a particular of the user interface, we provide a cheaper single review. This form of assessment is particularly advantageous for people who might wish to only redesign one item, without addressing other areas.
These reviews can be done at any stage of the design process. All that is required is that there is an actual design to be inspected. These can be
- An existing design (e.g. an online and active website).
- Design specifications, storyboards, or wireframes: We can review any of these and provide feedback on the task flow as well as the product’s overall usability.
- Prototype designs: A research and review of all the main interface elements supported with independent feedback.
- Ready-to-release designs: Review based on final polish ups which might be required.
Usability assessment can be done at any time regardless of the stage of the project. Our reviews can be done for live interfaces, a yet to be executed worded outline, or an early prototype.
We can review Intranets or enterprise applications if versions of the design can be provided outside the security of the firewall, or if we can remotely log in, or if provision is made for us to do this at an office in your location.
Intranets are not eligible for competitive reviews. This are only limited to websites and applications. We provide user experiences of your sites against those of 3 competitors of your choosing. We also provide recommendations for site redesigns based on our assessment on usability issues as found in each design.
Schedule
In most cases, a few weeks are required for a completed review. This can however be done at a much faster rate if your order is placed sufficiently in advance as this allow us make up time for our staff members.
Confidentiality
The findings of each review or study are kept confidential so also are all the information and data involving the project which was used during the process of evaluation. At no point do we reveal or share details of a client’s engagement.
Deliverable
The final reports are written and contain the various problems and issues discovered in the project. In some cases, these reports might also be complemented with a conference call during which questions and uncertainties are clarified whilst highlighting on the important areas of concern. A typical reports is between 60-90 pages long, however the length of a report should not be used as a meter for determining the worth of the research but instead considered in relation to the problems discovered with the design.
The reports address two levels of issues:
- Usability problems in the design of the project are discovered with changes suggested on some areas that will improve its usability. As much as 50 to 100 design flaws can sometimes be found.
- High-level analysis of the usability directions for the design and the recommended strategy for achieving significant advances in the user experience.
Frequently asked question: Is it possible to see a sample report?
No, all the reports of clients are confidential, sensitive and unconditionally unavailable to the viewing of the public.
Cost:
$7,000 for a review of a website or intranet
$5,000 for a competitive review of your website + 3 competitors