Rochester Museum and Science Center
Madhura Valvaikar
Jonathan Yau
Danielle Smith
Cole Inniss
25th - 29th of January, 2021
Design Challenge : Redesigning the Information Architecture of RMSC website
Problem Statement
Concerns
Goals and Priorities
and Nature Center).
Design Process
1
Evaluation
2
Brainstorming
3
Ideation
4
UnderstandingDigital Context
5
Use Cases
6
Prototyping
7
Usability Testing
8
Analysing Results
Example 1
Example 2
Website Evaluation Results
The footer for each section is externally consistent with an end of a page.
Science Museum, Strasenburgh Planetarium and the Cumming Nature Center are the menus for the three main locations while Buy Tickets and Become a Member are action buttons. Their functions are different and thus should not be grouped together.
Buy Tickets allows user to buy tickets only for Science Museum.
Example 3
-Cluttered Information.
-No typographic Hierarchy.
-Slideshow takes a considerable amount of space.
-The color of Science Museum mega menu is same as that of the background text.
Plus sign is externally consistent with “Adding a new item”. Here, the user can only click the mega menus to know more about them. Thus the use of plus sign is not suggested.
Low Color Contrast
Example 4
Evaluation Results
Buy Tickets allows users to buy General Admission tickets only for Science Museum.
Example 5
Example 6
Throughout most pages there is a lot of information for any user to read.
Information used to describe an event should be very precise. Can make use of Extras on Demand.
Example 7
Inconsistent menu options across the three locations.
Example 8
There is information related to pricing. But, there is no option to book the tickets throughout the page. The users are not informed about how to book these tickets.
Example 9
Menu options are arranged as bullet points.
Discussion and Brainstorming
After individual evaluation, we discussed the issues and possible solutions. This discussion was based on client goals and requirements
Categorising three locations
Organising Information
Limit Information Overload
Easy to browse and intuitive website
Highlighting membership, donation and fundraising
Simplifying navigation for educators
Ideation
Ideation
Inspiration - Understanding digital context
THE MET
ART INSTITUTE CHICAGO
CORNING MUSEUM OF GLASS
Inspiration - Understanding digital context
Common terms found across this platform
Use Cases
Case 1
Buying a Ticket
Case 2
Registering for an Event
Case 3
For Educators
Use Case 1 - Buying a Ticket
Goal :
To buy a ticket for the General admission to Science Museum
Steps:
Alternate Use Case:
Our prototype for Use Case 1
HOMEPAGE
Three sections for three locations
Buy Tickets and Become a Member on the top right
Concise information about Membership
About us ,Donation and Location can be added here
Our prototype for Use Case 1
STRANSENBURGH PLANETRIUM
User selects planeterium
Option to Buy tickets for both General Admission and all other events.
Our prototype for Use Case 1
TICKETS AND ADMISSION
Shows schedule, and option to book tickets for different events.
A quick view of the pricing options.
Our prototype for Use Case 1 - Alternate
TICKETS AND ADMISSION
Buy Tickets option on the top leads to this page.
User can buy tickets to any of the three locations. After selecting the location ,they are directed to respective buying options for these locations.
Use Case 2 - Registering for an Event
Goal :
Steps:
Our prototype for Use Case 2
CUMMING NATURE CENTER HOMEPAGE
User clicks Nature Center on the Website’s Homepage.
User can scroll down to find the side menu.
Our prototype for Use Case 2
CUMMING NATURE CENTER HOMEPAGE
After scrolling, timings are displayed. Buy Tickets option is retained.
This design can be used for all other locations too.
User clicks Programs and Events option
Our prototype for Use Case 2
PROGRAMS AND EVENTS
Selecting Programs and Events option, displays the events on the right.
Required event is found
Use Case 3 - Finding an Event for Educators
Goal :
Steps:
Alternative:
3. In the search bar search “Women Changemakers”.
4. Scroll down to find “Rochester Women Changemakers”.
Our prototype for Use Case 3
FOR EDUCATORS PAGE
Different options for educators.
Clicking For Educators on the menu bar takes users to this page.
Additional Search option for users to enter a keyword related to the event.
Our prototype for Use Case 3
FOR EDUCATORS PAGE
Users search keywords - Changemakers Women
Event is Filtered
Our prototype for Use Case 3
FOR EDUCATORS PAGE
Information about the event. Important details on the top.
Quick information on how to book.
Additional Feature
HOVER MENU
Plan your visit option is included. This is for quick access and is included within this menu for all locations
Plan your event is also included for quick access.
Usability Testing
Test Plan
Number of Participants
3, Age (20 - 28)
Study Design
Within Subjects
Products Tested
Website and Prototype
Order of Testing was reversed
Methods Used
Scenarios, Task Assignment Think Aloud and Post-task Interviews.
Test Setup
In Person, on Designer’s Laptop
Collected Data
Qualitative Data(QL)
Participant Actions, Comments and their responses to Interview Questions
Usability Testing
Test Process
ORIENTATION SCRIPT AND CONSENT
1
THINK ALOUD
PRACTICE
2
SCENARIO INTRODUCTION
3
TASK ASSIGNMENT
4
POST-TASK INTERVIEW
5
SWITCHED TO OTHER PRODUCT/INTERFACE
6
Usability Testing
Scenario 1- Buying Tickets
Imagine you want to take your 6 year old nephew to a show about planets and many other space related shows. You thus decide to buy an admission ticket to RMSC’s Planetarium.
TASK
Your task is to buy an admission ticket to RMSC’s Planetarium. “Also, please think aloud while doing this task.”
Scenario 2 - For Educators
Imagine you are a teacher(or an educator) and you want to take your 5th grade students to know more about women visionaries. You thus plan to book an event at Rochester Museum and Science Center.
TASK
Find an education event about Women visionaries and also find an option to book it.
Scenario 3 - Finding an Event
Imagine you and your significant other, love reading books. You would also want to go on a guided hike trip together. You both thus wish to find an event where you can read books and go on an exciting hiking adventure.
TASK
Find an event where you can read books as well as hike.Remember to think aloud as you find this event.
1
2
3
Study 1: Website then Prototype
Participant 1: Age 20
Website Comments:
The first the the participant said was that the website was very cluttered and didn’t know where to look. During task 1 the participant struggled to buy the correct ticket for planetarium ticket instead of the Science Museum ticket. During task 3 instead of finding the event the participant just bought cumming nature center tickets.
Prototype Comments:
The participant was easily able to execute all 3 tasks smoothly and was pleased with the aesthetic design with only necessary information.
Overall Comments:
The participant commented that he definitely thinks the prototype is a lot easier to navigate and more pleasing to the eye. He also added he was able to get to where he wanted a lot faster because he wasn’t busy looking for the tab or button he had to click to get there. Most importantly he said that he prefered the prototype’s design over the website.
Study 2: Prototype then Website
Participant 2: Age 27
Website Comments:
In task 1 ,participant was confused she commented ”What? Is it just for science museum? Then why is it placed with all the three locations on the home page? It should be within the science museum tab right? I thought it is to book tickets for everything.” As she continued looking for the planetarium tickets, she kept going to the show schedule page. When she found hours and admission page after 2 minutes of search, she could not find option to book a general admission ticket. She eventually got too frustrated and quit on finding where to purchase the ticket. For Task2, she wished for a search option. Task 3 was easy as she knew the event was located in the “Programs and Events” tab
Prototype Comments:
Easily executed most task smoothly. During Task 2 the participate commented that she liked how the filter option also has a search bar so she can just search up a specific event she wanted.
Overall Comments:
She liked the Prototype. Suggested having a clear description of the three locations on the homepage.
Study 3: Website then Prototype
Participant 3: Age 28
Website Comments:
For task 1, she clicked Buy Ticket on the homepage. Realised it is not for planetarium. Struggles like participant 2 to find general admission ticket information. When she found the information, she wondered why there is no option to book. “I am confused, I think I will leave the site”. Could not find the educators option on the top. Found it in the menu under Museum’s home page. Took 2 minutes to find Book and Hike event. She expected it to be in “Trails and Exhibits” tab but was in Programs and Events.
Prototype Comments:
Was easy for her to buy tickets for planetarium admission in prototype. She did not quickly notice the educator option at the top. Noticed it after 2-3 seconds. She liked the drop down menu. She said- Its quick, and neat.
Overall Comments:
She liked the overall layout of the prototype. Was not happy with the overall process of buying tickets on the website.
Conclusion
Through our usability test feedback we conclude that we tried to address some major concerns that the original RMSC website contained over a period of 1 week-