Portfolio Usability Test
A test was conducted on my art portfolio,
iiisa-art.com, in order to evaluate the usability, workings, and productivity of the website. The portfolio had not been updated in quite a few years, and needed to be surveyed and examined by a few selected users.
The Website:
What is http://iiisa-art.com?
iiisa-art is an art portfolio I made back in 2015. It has many functions, such as showcasing my artwork, acting as a resume for potential employers, and providing information to respective commissioners and fellow artists.
Home Page
Illustration Gallery
The Beginning:
I began with writing out a test plan, overviewing the initial purpose, the category of users to select, and the tasks and scenarios. Then, I wrote up a screener to determine the characteristics of users I was looking for.
Test Plan
The Users:
K: Age 31. A retail merchandiser for a natural food company and artist. Has developed their own portfolio as well as commissioned others.
R: Age 32. A court reporter and fiction writer. Has commissioned artists for their job and has made a website for their work.
J: Age 29. A childcare worker and crafter. Has commissioned other artists multiple times and made a website for their products.
The Test:
I wrote out a test script, and conducted the interviews in person, over both mobile devices and laptops. Each user was read the scripts and allowed around 30 minutes to complete their tasks and scenarios.
Find the script here.
User Profiles and Issue Registries
User Result Data
The Results:
Most of the users agreed that while they were able to easily navigate the art and view each piece, the main issues were:
The rotating image carousel is distracting and cut off
The images, especially PNG files, do not zoom well especially on mobile
The links open as tabs which can be overwhelming
The Powered by Weebly icon is distracting and not pleasing to the eye
The commission info is confusing
The instagram icon/link is not clear
Conclusion
Next Steps:
Ultimately, I took these findings and decided to completely revamp the website with all of the results and critique in mind.
I am currently in the process of moving it from Weebly to Squarespace, and re-focusing the art used, the about section, and the visual design.
I hope to have it ready by the end of August 2024.