MOOSES GOOSES HACKATHON
Platform
Industry
Language
Timeframe
Desktop
Non Profit
English
1 week
TABLE OF CONTENTS
1. Project Overview
2. Background Information
3. User Goals
4. User Surveys
5. User Interviews
6. Usability Tests
7. What is the issue?
8. Prototype
9. Results
10. Valuable Lessons
PROJECT OVERVIEW
As a tester, I conducted usability tests for an informational desktop website, ensuring users could access information about abortion clinics in the United States succinctly and without bias, especially amid recent controversies surrounding access to these facilities for women. The main issues were that ever since the Roe v. Wade reversal, accessing abortion clinics has become less convenient, and information on the topic often carries political bias.
Background Information
Reproductive rights trace back to the 1960s when the FDA approved the birth control pill. Before Roe v. Wade in 1973, abortion legality varied widely across states:
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33 states considered abortion illegal
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13 states had restricted abortion laws
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4 states have legalized abortion
​
However, in 2022, the Dobbs v. Jackson case led to significant changes:
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34 states restricted abortion
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10 states criminalized abortion
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10 states expanded abortion access
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10 states protected abortion rights
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4 states were undecided
USER GOALS
Creating an unbiased, one-stop informational website on abortion clinics that is clear, concise, and reliable for users, providing straightforward information.
USER SURVEYS
In this stage, three important crucial insights were taken away:​ Users acknowledged their rights, users struggled to find unbiased information regarding abortion, and trustworthy information was crucial.​
MAIN QUOTES TO FURTHER THIS POINT
Participant 1
"I wanted to know exactly what happened. Like why isn't my bag here with me? I wanted to know how they were gonna follow up"
Participant 2
"When you lose your bag, there's that fear that it's never going to show up"
Participant 3
"They're telling me to put their trust in them. But it's tough to be patient and wait when they don't know where all your stuff is."
USER INTERVIEWS
There were two important insights throughout the user interview journey: Users seek local resource information and prefer facts over opinions.
MAIN QUOTES TO FURTHER THIS POINT
Participant 1
"I wanted to know exactly what happened. Like why isn't my bag here with me? I wanted to know how they were gonna follow up"
Participant 2
"When you lose your bag, there's that fear that it's never going to show up"
Participant 3
"They're telling me to put their trust in them. But it's tough to be patient and wait when they don't know where all your stuff is."
COMPETITVE AND COMPARATIVE ANALYSES
What are the key insights?
Details of abortion bans, restrictions, and protection by the state
Color/heat map of state abortion accessibility
KEY IMPLEMENTATIONS
What are the key insights?
Details of abortion bans, restrictions, and protection by the state
The site homepage featured a glossary with legal terms
The site focus - Post Roe v. Wade
BRAINSTORMING IDEAS
Must have
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Unbiased/reliable information: This is crucial for establishing trustworthiness and credibility.
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Links to references and resources: Providing sources allows users to verify information and delve deeper into topics.
Should have
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​Visual data and mapping: Visual aids can enhance understanding and engagement with the content.
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Local resource search option: This feature can improve user experience by allowing them to find relevant information specific to their location.
Could have
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Fact-checking feature: This would add an extra layer of credibility by allowing users to verify the accuracy of information.
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Social media sharing feature: Facilitating easy sharing of content can help increase visibility and reach.
Would have
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Personal user data and information are private to them: Respecting user privacy is important, and this decision aligns with privacy principles.
​Overall, this prioritization framework ensures that essential features are implemented first, followed by those of lesser importance. It helps in making efficient use of resources and delivering a product that meets user needs effectively.
DESIGN AND PROTOTYPE
USABILITY TESTS
During the project, two usability tests were conducted to help users locate local abortion services in our prototype. Despite a lower usability score due to task complexity, feedback-guided improvements were provided in our design and solution.
The heat map reveals the average misclick errors on the Homepage and indicates adjustments needed in the flow leading to our search tool.
The second heat map highlighted areas for improving the accessibility of our search tool in the next iteration.
Revisiting the goal
To revisit our goal, this informational platform has to prioritize three elements:
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Facts over opinions
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Local resource accessibility
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User privacy
PROTOTYPE
RESULT
Progressed with an insightful, informative website while efficiently managing challenges.
VALUABLE LESSONS
1. Prioritizing user awareness: Handling a controversial subject matter in an unbiased manner.
2. Being effective throughout design sprints: Being willing to handle the sprints effectively.
3. Fostering collaboration to approach the project with grace: Being willing to be adaptable and implementing agile thinking into a UX Design team in a span of a week.