What is it

A User Assessment is a task-based evaluation of an application, product or website. Items typically evaluated are:

• Navigation
• Terminology
• Readability
• User controls

When do we do it

User Assessments are performed at any time in the lifecycle of an application, but early in the design phase is the best time to discover problems.

Paper prototypes or functional prototypes provide suitable opportunities to test.

How we do it

We familiarize ourselves with the application, noting possible problem areas. Then we construct a series of tasks that drive the user through the application to see what problems surface.

During the debrief session at the end of the tasks, users suggest remedies to the problems they encounter.

What we deliver

We create screen shots with callouts to clearly identify each problem area and suggest possible remedies.

Full transcriptions of all interviews, the findings and action lists are included as part of the final deliverable.