Hello, and thank you for taking time out of your day to help me test the usability of my Web site. This Web site is a class project for ENGL 4814: Writing and Designing for the World Wide Web. Part of my project grade depends on the usability of my Web site. The three usability tasks I ask you to perform today will help me determine how easily users can locate information on my site. The usability tasks are short and simple. If you have an extra minute (literally) after completing the usability tasks, please consider completing a four-question survey about your experience on my Web site.

Listed below are the three usability tasks I would like you to perform. The usability tasks are numbered 1-3 and build on each other, so please complete each usability task before moving to the next. In each usability task I will provide you with a specific scenario and ask you to complete a task on my Web site to satisfy that scenario. Please note that the tasks do not have a definite start or end point. Perform the tasks using your intuition.

I have included a link to my Web site at the end of each usability task description. After reading the usability task description, please click the link to open my Web site in a new Web browser window. When you have completed the usability task to the best of your ability, close all Web browser windows except this one. Then move to the next usability task. To summarize, please follow these steps:

  1. Complete each usability task in order, beginning with Usability Task 1
  2. Read each usability task description
  3. Click the link to my Web site at the end of each usability task description to open my site in a new Web browser window
  4. Complete the usability task to the best of your ability
  5. Close all Web browser windows except this window (should you accidentally close this window, please reopen it by accessing www.chrisbayne.com/usability/)
  6. Move to the next usability task

If you have any questions, please ask me now. If you are ready to begin, please scroll down to Usability Task 1. You may return to the above steps by scrolling up at any time during the usability test.

Usability Task 1

You just started a small business. You want to make business cards for you and your employees, but you don’t have any knowledge of graphic design. A friend gives you my Web site address and tells you that I am a local graphic designer. You decide to visit my Web site to find out if I can make business cards for your company. Go to my Web site and find an example of a business card I made for another company.
» www.chrisbayne.com

Usability Task 2

Now that you know I can make business cards for your company, you want to contact me. Go to my Web site and find my email address.
» www.chrisbayne.com

Usability Task 3

You begin to write me an email describing how you want your business cards to look when you decide it might be easier to explain in-person. In your email you offer to meet me at a restaurant to discuss your business cards. Go to my Web site and find my favorite place to eat lunch in Blacksburg.
» www.chrisbayne.com

Thank you for completing the three usability tasks. If you have an additional minute, please complete this four-question survey about your experience on my Web site. Your feedback will help me analyze and improve my Web site’s usability.

Again, thank you for your time.