Habitat for Humanity Project Site

Results of the Typical User Test

Overview of the Testing Process

The client supplied us with 10 names of people deemed "typical users" of the Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County's website. Some of these were volunteers within the organization, others were involved with other non-profits. Of those 10 possible reviewers, 5 responded fully and 1 replied with generalized comments. We will address the concerns about typos and other easily-remedied issues prior to client hand-off. Issues of content will be handled by the client after the handoff. The client will be given a manual that provides instruction on how to edit content as well as add photos, should the client chose to add more images. Below are the questions and the results.

Test Questions

Computers and Systems Used

Computer brand: Dell (2), HPG60, Compaq Presario 8000, iMac

Monitor Size: 27", 22", 17"(3)

Operating system: Windows 7, XP Home, XP,XP Pro, Mac OS X Version 10.6.7

Browser: Firefox 3.6.12, IE 7, Apple Safari, IE 8

Internet connection: Comcast bus class cable, DSL (3), Comcast Broadband

About the Site

What is the site about?: Habitat for Humanity Sonoma County (and ReStore, Habitat for Humanity (2), Habitat for Humanity of Sonoma County with emphasis on Donating, Volunteering and ReStore

Where did you first click?: Donations (3),Volunteer (2). Additional comments:Went to volunteer page and clicked on Corporate Team Building then on pdf for Wanda Lee and Bill Gittins. Failed to see the relevance of this pdf to Habitat. Just looked like and ad for these peoples services. Eliminate or make relevant.Donation page was the first one I went to and there isn't much inspiring about a list of names. I think that needs more focus or just dump it.

Did you find the site easy to navigate and find what you were looking for?: Yes (2). Comment:I did find it pretty easy to navigate, you've done a nice job with it. Comment: Very easy to navigate and load time for pages nice and short.

What is the overall tone and feel of the site?: Much better than the previous site, but needs improvement. How can you help!? Nice and modern, a bit plain and not very colorful when going deeper onto inside pages, but Home page is spot on. It's appealing to the eye.

Were the pages interesting? Why or why not?: No. Needs more and bigger photos. Yes, they were, very nice job on word/font variation and sizes. I guess the site was interesting but kind of bland to me. Very pale and not very lively. I would prefer more intense colors. They give the information you need. Most were filled with correct information but lacked color and interesting images which can be added. As I said earlier, a bit plain and little color (hopefully easily altered and expanded by staff without outside support). Some pages have too much text in unbroken paragraphs. People do not read long pages on the web and need short snippets.

What is your impression of the color scheme and images?: White on light blue difficult to read. Images need to be better (bigger, more engaging. I like the color scheme and images; more images would be better. A bit drab and utilitarian. Needs color and interesting images and photos on interior pages. Some titles (especially the main Habitat for Humanity logo on the ReStore page) are a bit too heavily shadowed which makes it hard to make out the "of Sonoma County" in the logo. Shadowing of ReStore logo is perfect and it remain easy to read.

What did you like best about the site?: Ease of navigation. Colors and fonts variation Looks clean. Very basic configuration (which is good and easy to use for most with general knowledge of computers). Navigation is easily accessible on the top of all pages and all links seem to work well and quickly.

What did you like least about the site?: The initial photo slideshow: too fast, and need to eliminate the roll down caption for a simple caption that comes up with the photo. Hated it with a passion, made me feel nauseous, and wanted to get off the site as soon as possible. Absence of pictures and projects;we are a building organization, time to show that!! Lack of color and images. Sponsor pages need fleshing out with links added to sponsor web site and pages provided to sponsors to voice their support and why the help Habitat. This is a tool for encouraging sponsors to link to the site that has not been used to it's full potential. Need to have some criteria with who gets their logo shown at the bottom of the home page or have the logos rotate through randomly from a file of logos. It would also be nice to be able to click on the images of the home page an good directly to the image or gallery of photos containing that image. Need more info on Corporate Team Building, Faith Build and Youth Build pages. Need links or more information on the previous build project pages (links to one or two page descriptions and details of earlier home building projects). On the Apply page under Family Services, the chart about adjusted low limits needs to be centered or aligned properly. Hopefully Interest form information goes directly into the database or is designated to be loaded ASAP. Quilt page need images of those fantastic quilts for sale and sponsors need links or further information as I mentioned earlier. The News page is a bit too long without having links to each article listed on the right side panel that allow direct access. Would be nice to have a links to the calendar in the upcoming event section and the page for Board members could have info or links to pages with more information about each board member and what they bring to the organization. I don't like the myths part and don't know why so I don't feel helpful;maybe it is just too many words and it feels negative,like we're on the defensive.

Using the Site

Were there any links that did not work, images that did not load, typos?: The last logo for sponsors did not load. The drop down menu for the volunteer tab does not appear when on any other page. Also pictures are not loading on the Volunteer spotlight pages for Gabe Diaz, Michael and Alison Foster, and A Day of Rock. Also, the last Sponsor picture at the bottom of the pages is not showing up. Site seemed clean of typos and links that didn't work. Sponsor images at bottom are difficult to read. They need to have a similar "weight" not just similar width. i.e. gives PGE too much weight, while others are too small. Maybe make it into a nicer pattern instead of just a row. There are some "mouseover" links throughout (roofing, appliances, etc. that are inappropriate (it looks like the words in the ReStore mouseover section get repeated wherever they appear elsewhere) Need to find and remove those mouseover links (my browser shows a dotted underline on these words) On some pages there is a button "Back to Restore" That should be changed and relinked to Back to Top or Home or some such to bring you to the main page. If a ReStore button is kept, make sure to cap the S in ReStore. What's happening? Should be capitalized. Address bars on volunteer release form pdfs are inconsistent. See attached specifics for each part of the site.

Could you find the online form to volunteer or donate to this organization? Did you have any difficulties?: Yes. Print too small. Yes, no difficulties. Yes, easy to find. No problems. It was easy to find. I would like to see the VOLUNTEER NOW button on the women build page too.

Did you feel more likely or less likely to volunteer or donate after viewing the site?: About the same. More likely to donate. Yes. (2)

Was it easy to find out about events?: Yes (4)

How do you make a donation to this organization?: Go to Donations (2)

Do you understand what ReStore is? if not, why?: Yes (4). Sort of. Based on this short website about Restore, there wasn't much information. I know what it is, but the public coming to this website would have a hard time figuring it out; BUT, we are a build organization and that is the most important!

Do you understand what Family Services is?: Yes (3). Sort of. Need to clarify "apply" or make that its own button

Do you have any comments to make?: Good website generally, would like to see more images and more information about our current builds and future projects, nothing about future projects on the site!!!! Good job with a few things needed to make it great. Need to check overall web page settings. When viewing on my iMac, the page allows me to scroll left and right about 500-600% of web page width. Need to check how to control this aspect of page displayed on different browsers. The over-riding issue I have is that North Bay Garbage's logo is not anywhere. They are our premier sponsor and should be prominent.