Craigslist
Redesigning the usability analysis and assessment for an existing app.
Craigslist is a popular online classifieds platform that connects users with local opportunities across categories like housing, jobs, and items for sale. Launched in 1995, it features a simple, no-frills design focused on functionality. Despite its minimalist interface, Craigslist remains effective and trusted, allowing users to easily post and browse listings. Its straightforward approach and community focus have made it one of the most visited websites globally.
01
General Features
This section highlights the core functionalities of the Craigslist web application, emphasizing its user-friendly interface and essential tools for navigation and interaction. From locating services and products in various regions to creating and managing postings, Craigslist offers a straightforward approach to connecting users with their local communities.
02
Persona
John, a 28-year-old IT professional, recently moved to a new city and is searching for affordable, reliable services and products. His priorities include safety, security, and credible information. John's main frustrations are the risk of scams, lack of seller responses, and outdated websites. He is cautious, comparing options and negotiating before making purchases. This persona underscores the need for secure, user-friendly platforms to meet the needs of users like John.
03
User Journey Map
Awareness: This phase starts with the user searching for a platform to meet their needs. They perform a Google search or ask friends for recommendations, leading them to consider Craigslist.
Consideration: The user visits Craigslist and selects their location, but encounters confusion on the homepage. They struggle to navigate directly to the location of their choice, often resorting to additional Google searches for guidance.
Exploration: As the user browses through options, they find themselves overwhelmed by the numerous categories and sub-options. Scouting for the right choice becomes challenging, especially with the side panel navigation adding to the complexity.
Engagement: The user attempts to filter through options to find the most relevant results. However, trust issues arise, making it difficult for them to confidently make a choice. The filtering process itself may lead to confusion, as the user struggles to remember previous selections.
Conversion: In the final stage, the user connects with a seller using the provided information. Despite this, they experience discomfort about sharing personal details, expressing a wish for a more secure and seamless in-app communication system.
04
User Analysis
Method:
Hosted a user research clinic physical and virtual (zoom, teams, etc) platforms.
Collected the user response via Pre and Post interface evaluation questionnaire.
Observed the participant while performing the task to analyze their response to the user interface.
Tasks were timed to see how long it took to reach the goal, and each task was also timed to understand the effort required.
Procedure:
Prepared an evaluation sheet consisting of a set of questionnaire to record participant response to various interfaces within the website.
Documented the responses and summarized the results as shown in the presentation.
05
User Scenario
These user scenarios are showcased in 3 major tasks that are listed
View Events
View Post
Create Postings
06
Task Flows with Improved Usability
These task flows illustrate the design of user interactions aimed at enhancing usability within a platform. The first task flow focuses on creating postings, simplifying the interface by reducing the number of screens and incorporating features like saving progress, aligning with usability heuristics. The second task flow improves the process of viewing posts by introducing chat-based and recommendation features, which enhance user engagement and search efficiency. The third task flow outlines the viewing of events, emphasizing clear communication and categorization for better aesthetics and usability, adhering to principles like minimalism and real-world system alignment.
07
High Fidelity and User Guides
The user guide provides detailed steps for viewing events on the platform, guiding users through selecting categories, applying filters, and viewing event details. The high-fidelity prototypes shown offer a comparison between the current screen, low-fidelity wireframe, and the final high-fidelity design. These prototypes demonstrate the evolution of the user interface, focusing on improved aesthetics, usability, and user engagement by introducing refined visual elements and enhanced functionality. This approach ensures users have a seamless and intuitive experience while interacting with event listings on the platform.
7.1 A
High Fidelity: View Event
The high-fidelity screens demonstrate a polished and realistic design of the event viewing platform, showcasing clear navigation, organized content, and refined aesthetics. These prototypes accurately represent the final product, allowing users to engage with the interface as it would appear in the live environment, facilitating more effective feedback and validation.
7.1 B
User Guide: View Event
View Events
Click on Events tab
Select the tags that apply to your preference
Select the Event that you like
Click on the link to see more pictures
To reply
Click on the reply button to reply about the event
Choose from suggested text
Click send
7.2 A
High Fidelity: Create Postings
The high-fidelity design for creating postings introduces a modern, user-friendly interface with a clean layout and intuitive form fields. It streamlines navigation and enhances the user experience with clear labels and organized sections. The redesign makes the posting process more efficient and visually appealing, ensuring users can easily create and manage their listings.
7.2 B
User Guide: Create Postings
Create Posting
Click on create posting button
Click on get started
Fill up the form
Review the form in terms of how it will look in the post after it’s submitted.
Click on submit.
7.3 A
High Fidelity: View Post
The high-fidelity design for viewing posts introduces a modern, user-friendly layout with improved visual hierarchy and organized content. It enhances readability and navigation, making it easier for users to interact with and respond to posts. The clean design and clear call-to-action buttons ensure a more engaging and efficient user experience.
7.3 B
User Guide: View Post
Sign up/Login
Click on sign up with email or sign up with google or facebook.
Fill in all the information. Click on Sign up.
Fill in the location details or click on ‘detect my current location’.
Click on save
View Post
Select the category (Click on Artist).
Click on Search.
Click on Search- ‘ Bicycle Servicing’.
Checkbox the filter ‘Free’.
Click on the post of bicycle servicing.
Click on Reply.
Type on the message.
Click on Send.
08
Usability Expectation
09
Usability Testing
Remote Testing: A SUS (System Usability Scale) survey collects user feedback on the platform's usability through a Likert scale questionnaire, covering aspects like ease of use, visual appeal, and confidence in using the site.
Think Aloud Testing: Participants interact with the prototype in a controlled environment, verbalizing their thoughts as they complete specified tasks. The process captures real-time insights into user behavior and potential usability challenges.
Heuristic Evaluation: Usability experts assess the prototype based on 10 heuristic principles, documenting violated principles, severity levels, and recommendations for improvement. The evaluation captures expert-level analysis of user experience and functionality issues.
10
Data Analysis
10.1
SUS (System Usability Scale)
The original Craigslist design had a low SUS score of 49.1, indicating poor usability. Post-redesign, the score improved to 68.4, reflecting better user interaction and overall usability improvements.
10.2
Satisfaction Ranking
Users reported higher satisfaction with the new design, with task-specific rankings showing significant improvement in ease of use, confidence in navigation, and overall satisfaction compared to the original interface.
10.3
Think Aloud Testing Analysis
The time taken to complete tasks, such as signing up or creating a post, was reduced in the redesigned version. Users experienced fewer failures, smoother navigation, and higher success rates, indicating a more efficient design.
10.4
Heuristic Analysis
The heuristic checklist revealed several usability issues in the original design, including poor feedback and error prevention. These issues were addressed in the new prototype, leading to a more intuitive and error-free experience for users.
11
Discussion
The key usability issues identified during the evaluation and offers solutions based on severity and violated usability principles.
Visibility of System Status: While color-coded subcategories indicate selection, users found it hard to recognize this quickly, which violates the principle of visibility. Enhancing the clarity of color coding can reduce confusion and improve recognition.
Control and Freedom: The lack of an edit button on the review page limits users' ability to correct mistakes, violating the principle of user control. Providing an editable form on the review page would grant users more control and prevent errors.
Help and Documentation: Users faced difficulty understanding next steps, particularly when replying to sellers. Clear guidance and documentation would ease navigation, improving user support and reducing cognitive load.
12.1
Iteration 1
Problem Identified:
The state filter near the search seems redundant since there is a possibility that the user might want to change the city frequently but not the state.
Principle Observed:
Match between the system and the real world.
Customizability.
12.2
Iteration 2
Problem Identified:
In the events section, the user was confused about the date. He did select the option to filter it to next weekend and did not know what date he was looking at.
Principle Observed:
Recognition rather than recall.
Customizability, Feedback, Visibility.
12.3
Iteration 3
Problem Identified:
There was confusion with the sub-categories, didn’t understand whether it came under the category selected or was independent of it.
Principle Observed:
Match between the system and Error prevention.
Design and layout, Visibility.
12.4
Iteration 4
Problem Identified:
The colour-coded filters need high contrast, or reduced colour.
Principle Observed:
Aesthetic and minimal design.
Design and layout.
12.5
Iteration 5
Problem Identified:
The review page doesn't have an edit option.
Principle Observed:
Error prevention.
Efficiency, Controllability.
13
Final Design
14
Conclusion
In addition to addressing visibility/observability and feedback issues and enhancing aesthetics and design, the usability of the current Craigslist website has been improved through the following changes:
Simplifying the website's navigation structure to make it easier for users to find what they are looking for.
Improving search functionality to enable more accurate and relevant results.
Reducing clutter on the website to create a cleaner and more organized layout.
As a result of these changes, users of the Craigslist website can expect a more intuitive and efficient experience, with easier navigation and more effective search capabilities.