The Usability Findings on G1 Portal
TL;DR
At Banzi Design Studio, I improved G1's user experience by addressing issues in news structure and multimedia controls. Recommendations include refining home organization and simplifying login recovery options. Through competitive analysis and design enhancements, the goal is to optimize G1's standing as a leading news platform.
Platform
Web
Year
2022
Project
Through Banzi Design Studio, I was assigned to this project with the goal of identifying issues and potential opportunities that could boost retention and engagement rates while also improving the overall user experience.
Heuristics Review
Main Issues
The structure of the news in the home, where it is organized editorially according to what the editor deems to be the most crucial information of the day, as in a printed newspaper, was one of the primary challenges identified among the issues. The subject identification is followed by a listing; however, publications on the same or different themes are distinguished using the same visual resource (lower solid bar);
Multimedia controls result in problems with the user's freedom, control and efficiency. The podcast player, for example, presented a few problems. The player lived in line with the content and clicking on any link on the page resulted in navigating away from the podcast player, causing the loss of all progress and ch controls such as volume and playback speed.
Using the data I had discovered, I created a spreadsheet that listed the issues, the heuristics that each issue involved, their severity, and recommendations for improvement.
The degrees of severity were assigned as:
Cosmetic Problem: Correct when there is time;
Minor Problem: Low-priority fix;
Major Problem: High Priority Fix;
Catastrophe: Correct before releasing the product.
About G1
G1 has been running in Brazil since 2006 and is currently one of the biggest news portals there. Along with its reports in text, photo, audio, and video formats, the portal also offers journalism content from the many Grupo Globo enterprises, including TV Globo, GloboNews, CBN radio, Jornal O Globo, Extra, Expresso and Valor Econômico, Época and Globo Rural magazines.
Synchronic Analysis
Synchronic analysis is used to recognize the universe of the product in question and to avoid reinventions. Comparing and criticizing products requires the formulation of common criteria (BONSIEPE et al., 1984).
This analysis can also be understood as a survey of the products of the elected system (BOMFIM, 1977).
The Synchronic analysis method was chosen because we can consider the heuristic errors pointed out in the heuristic evaluation as comparison criteria. In this method, we would have precise standards for the suggestions on screens, such as emphasis and visual references.
The two largest news portals in the world and the three largest in Brazil were selected from a survey of the biggest local and international news portals to serve as the basis for the analysis:
Usability Findings and Suggestions
Home organization
The possibility of improving the website's Home was one of the ideas put forth.
“Like in a printed newspaper, the news is arranged editorially according to what the editor deems to be the most crucial information of the day. The subject identification is followed by a listing; however, articles on the same or different themes are distinguished using the same visual resource (lower solid bar)”.
In this manner, I suggested organizing the editorials to better highlight the separation between topics (such as economics, politics, etc.).
Options for password and login recovery
The login screen was designed with aesthetics and minimalism in mind, but it doesn't provide easily searchable information if troubleshooting is needed. Logging in with the registered email is the only way to reset the user's password. Also, there is no shortcut for the Customer Service Center (CSC).
In this manner, I presented the option of allowing the code to be sent by SMS while indicating that the user no longer has access to the registered email or phone number. Additionally, practically every level offers the choice to proceed to the CSC.
Roles and Responsibilities:
Competitive Analysis
Usability Heuristics Review
User Experience Design
Visual Design
Design System
Multimedia controls result in problems with the user’s freedom, control and efficiency
The presented video is automatically played while the user proceeds with his reading, disregarding important factors to users, such as connection issues. Also, the controls in the player, which are different from the natural order (culturally) established by most of the players, change their positions with any interaction.
The podcast player presented a few problems. The player lived in line with the content and clicking on any link on the page resulted in navigating away from the podcast player, causing aging the loss of all progress and ch controls such as volume and playback speed.
In this manner, I presented the option of allowing the code to be sent by SMS while indicating that the user no longer has access to the registered email or phone number. Additionally, practically every level offers the choice to proceed to the CSC.
Loss of progress with no warning
The articles contain many terms and phrases that are hyperlinked, some of which have no connection to the topic being read.
By clicking on any links, the user is taken to another news page without being informed that the task was not completed (reading the entire content or listening to the podcast episode), nor is he informed that he has lost reading ground.
One of my recommendations was to add a POP-UP box warning that continuing would end the current article and undo any progress made.
About Banzi
Banzi is a digital agency that provides branding, design, illustration and interactive design services, valuing creativity and intelligence to bound ideas and technology.
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