Information Architecture NISRA Redesign Project

Design Process:

1. Discover

Project Overview:

Enhancing the user experience of the Northern Illinois Special Recreation Association (NISRA) mobile page to improve navigation, clarity, and accessibility.

Problem Statement:

Participants often face usability and accessibility barriers, such as difficulty finding program information and volunteer opportunities, leading to fewer participants and volunteers.

Challenges:

1. Confusing Navigation: A cluttered menu makes finding information difficult.
2. Complex Task Completion: Registering for events or accessing program details is challenging.
3. Overwhelming Information: Excessive, outdated, or irrelevant content.

Goal:

1. Simplify Navigation: Create a streamlined menu for easier access.
2. Optimize Task Completion: Enable users to access programs and resources with minimal steps.
3. Inclusive Design: Reorganize content for individuals with disabilities and their caregivers.

Research

Content inventory

I Conducted a thorough audit to identify redundancies, outdated content, and gaps.

• Findings: Redundant labels, inconsistent terminology, and unclear categorization.

Card Sorting

I also conducted two rounds (closed and hybrid sorts) to refine categories:

Round 1: Closed Sort

• Closed Sort Findings: Users struggled to locate volunteer applications, FAQs, and updates.

Round 2: Hybrid Sort

• Hybrid Sort Results: Clearer categorization improved navigation and understanding.

These insights from content inventory and card sorting highlight the need for clearer labels, updated info, and improved categorization. These will guide my design decisions for a more intuitive, user-friendly NISR mobile page.

Interview

I interviewed 10 participants via Zoom, each lasting approximately 30 minutes. These participants included individuals with disabilities, caregivers, and staff members.

Key Findings

• Navigational difficulties caused frustration.
• Users requested fewer, more distinct categories.
• Outdated content reduced engagement.

2. Define

User Personas

I developed a persona, Alex, to empathize with users’ challenges and behaviors.

Alex’s journey highlighted the need for clear instructions, logical navigation, and targeted content updates.

3. Develop

Site Map

I created a sitemap outlining the new structure and organization based on insights gathered from the discover and define phase.

Key Improvements

• Moved "Summer Camps" under "Programs and Events."
• Shifted "Accessibility Guidelines" to "Resources."
• Grouped volunteer opportunities under "Employment."

Prototyping/Wireframing

I developed initial wireframes to visualize the redesign of the NISRA mobile page, focusing on improved user flow and accessibility.

4. Deliver

Tree Testing

• Conducted 2 rounds with 6 participants.
• Results:
• 80% successfully navigated to the correct sections on the first attempt.
• Average navigation time: under 30 seconds.

Iteration:

• Restructuring "Summer Camps" under "Programs and Events" eliminated the confusion
• Moving the accessibility guidelines to the "Resources" section
• Placing volunteer opportunities under “Employment."

Key Findings

• Direct Paths Taken: Most users (over 80%) successfully navigated to the correct sections on their first attempt, indicating a clear and logical structure.
• Issues with Specific Categories: Some users experienced difficulties with finding volunteer guidelines, suggesting that the labeling or categorization could be improved.
• Quick Navigation Times: Average navigation time across successful tasks was under 30 seconds, demonstrating the efficiency of the site structure.

First Click Testing

I conducted two rounds of First-Click Testing with 6 participants to evaluate users' initial interactions with the redesigned interface.

Results

• 85% success rate across tasks.
• Accessibility resources required better visibility.

Tasks

1. Find Upcoming Program Information
2. Register for an Event
3. Access Volunteer Opportunities
4. View Accessibility Resources

Key Findings

• 85% success rate across tasks.
• The average time to first click is under 5 seconds for successful tasks.
• Accessibility resources required better visibility.

Based on the sitemap and testing feedback, I rearranged the navigation, and conducted usability testing via Zoom. Participants were given 2 tasks to complete.

Iteration

Key Task 1: Exploring NISRA Programs and Registering Summer Camp

Streamlined process with direct pathways.

Key Task 2: Finding Volunteer Opportunities at NISRA and submitting a volunteer application

Simplified application flow reduced frustration.

4. Deliver

Final Product

Post-Launch

1 month after launching the NISRA page, I conducted a test with 10 users to evaluate its effectiveness, retention rate, and user satisfaction.

85% of the users were satisfied with the new simplified navigation

Retention Increase: Users returned for additional tasks without assistance

Reflection

Improvements:

• Involve users earlier in the process for broader insights.
• Diversify participant demographics for inclusivity.
• Expand accessibility testing to ensure broader compliance.

What I’d Do Differently:

• Introduce A/B testing for direct comparisons.
• Schedule regular check-ins with stakeholders for iterative feedback.
• Test with larger participant groups to enhance insights.
• Use heatmaps to analyze user behavior on critical pages.

Key Takeaways

• Iterative design led to a more intuitive, engaging experience.
• Regular user feedback ensured the redesign addressed core pain points effectively.
• Quantitative and qualitative metrics validated design decisions.

This testing aimed to measure the intuitiveness of the navigation and the clarity of information placement, ensuring users could quickly find what they needed.

Zoom, Google Forms, Figma, Optimal Workshop, Atlas.ti, WAVE (Web Accessibility Evaluation Tool), WebAIM Contrast Checker, ARIA Validator