Site Map – Revised

In an attempt to clarify and simplify the user experience, the site map has become a bit more involved, as development continues.

This map uses Jesse James Garrett's 'Visual Vocabulary', which further clarifies and outlines the processes and relationships between the various elements (http://www.jjg.net/ia/visvocab/).

Click the image to enlarge.

Mapping

The aim is to simplify the CPP Asia Pacific Website to make the USER EXPERIENCE a simpler, easier and more enjoyable experience.


A challenge with this site is that there is a legal requirement to ensure that certain products (and even some services) are only available to qualified people. So there is a requirement for quite a lot of legal information, terms and conditions etc. to be presented. 


While the legals are a requirement, it is doubtful that anyone will fully read it. It's therefore proposed that a typical 'I agree' to the terms and conditions with a link to them if so desire, rather than forcing someone to read literally pages of legal jargon. 


There are interactive recruitment tests, with results that would need to be emailed to the client using the site (as the candidate never sees these). 
The site as it exists at present:

The user is presently required to wade through multiple static pages, following sometimes quite minor links to arrive at what is actually a major component of the site. With many pop-up pages and 'dead-ends' a user is likely to become lost and either click the 'Home' button to attempt to re navigate through the site, or simply leave the site altogether!


The new architecture proposed, while simplifying the experience for the user, does not in fact remove information, but rather consolidates much of the superfluous text into a resources section of the site. This allows for the user to read the extensive information if they choose.

Note that the Recruitment and Personal Development sections don't require the payment gateway, as the client is billed to their account now.

By reducing the number of links and using more dynamic pages, the site now reduces the previously complex path the user was required to take and allows the site to present only pertinent information to the user. While the programming required may become more complex, the user's experience becomes easier and more aligned to their needs.

Form & Function

The following is nothing more than a 'thinking aloud' process that I am throwing out there. No doubt, it will be all covered in the course (indeed, a lot already has), but I found a site that states UX is the overlap between form and function and wanted to comment.

That design of a website needs to go beyond just the graphic look of the pages presented is well accepted. Sites need to be smooth and fast, with a clear concise code that ensures that the whole process works as expected every time.

Form and function balanced together encompass the whole usability of a site, contributing to the overall experience.

(Idler, 2012).

Sabina Idler, of Usabilla, suggests that function can be summed up as the 'Usability' of the site (Idler, 2012). If we look at a definition of usability, It can be seen that a key point is usefulness:

'Usability includes methods of measuring usability, such as Needs analysis and the study of the principles behind an object's perceived efficiency or elegance. In human-computer interaction and computer science, usability studies the elegance and clarity with which the interaction with a computer program or a web site (web usability) is designed. Usability differs from user satisfaction insofar as the former also embraces usefulness'

(Wikipedia, 2012)

So if a site is incredibly beautiful (Form), but ultimately too hard to navigate, it can be seen that the Form is out of balance with the Function. The UX suffers. Conversely, a site that is very easy to navigate, but is incredibly ugly may fail to engage the user. Again, UX suffers.

The 'Form' of the site is broadly the look of the design. However, it goes a lot further than that, as the form also encompasses the feel of a site. To extrapolate, the form of the site is  visceral and emotive.

As emotive responses to certain stimuli and imagery can be affected by cultural, personal, educational, religious and any other variety of demographic influences, it poses the question;

Does UX design also rely on an inevitable degree of unpredictability; the user? I am therefore asking (anyone who wants to comment), shouldn't UX design consider a 3rd balance point as equally important?

Idler states;

'Design is very emotional, which often keeps designers from being rational about something they have created themselves.'

I'm suggesting that care needs to be taken to ensure that the form, function and the user are considered in a balanced fashion.

References

Idler, S, 2012, Usabilla, Form & Function Go Hand-in-hand, [online] http://blog.usabilla.com/form-and-function-go-hand-in-hand/ [accessed 3Apr12]

Wikipedia, 2012, Usability, [online] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Usability [accessed, 3Apr12]