Week 5 – Wireframe Usability Testing
Overview
In Week 5, our team conducted structured think-aloud usability testing on our wireframes. The goal was to observe real user behavior and identify usability issues affecting navigation, clarity, and task completion.
My Role
I contributed by helping define user tasks and observing participant navigation behavior during testing. I focused on identifying hesitation, confusion, and incorrect navigation patterns.
Primary Tasks
- Search for a product and open the listing
- Navigate to a seller’s profile and view ratings
- Return to the homepage
- Open the hamburger menu and access account settings
Key Findings
Navigation Confusion
Some users hesitated when locating the search feature and hamburger menu. One user clicked multiple elements before finding the correct path.
Seller Profile Issues
All users struggled to identify the seller’s trust rating. Users scanned the page, hesitated, and questioned which rating was relevant.
Unclear Visual Hierarchy
Multiple elements on the seller profile page had equal visual weight, making it difficult for users to prioritize information.
Inconsistent Mental Models
Some users did not recognize the site logo as a way to return home and questioned the purpose of certain navigation elements.
User Feedback
- “Where am I supposed to click?”
- “Wait, are these rating stars?”
- “This is laid out a little weird.”
- “What’s a hamburger?”
Design Revisions
Simplified Seller Profile Layout
Problem: Users could not identify the main trust rating.
Change: Removed duplicate rating elements and emphasized one clear rating.
Why: Improves clarity and reduces visual clutter.
Improved Visual Hierarchy
Problem: Too many elements competed for attention.
Change: Reorganized layout so key information appears at the top left.
Why: Helps users scan and locate information quickly.
Reduced Layout Complexity
Problem: Combined vertical and horizontal scrolling created confusion.
Change: Simplified layout to a single scrolling direction.
Why: Improves navigation and reduces cognitive load.
Impact
These revisions significantly improved usability by making the interface easier to understand and navigate. Users can now locate key information more quickly and complete tasks with less confusion.
Testing Notes Source
Full raw and structured usability testing notes are documented here: https://docs.google.com/document/d/1_pidAHOEbFBhIZAexN0G5eux5VLVD0fCigxJLzNn4o4/edit?tab=t.0