Usability test project completed by New Media student at Clark State Community College, Springfield, Ohio

1. Website Redesign Proposal for:
www.guidestar.org
Recommended by:
mediaworkman

2. Executive Summary www.guidestar.org
Guidestar.org is a website that provides data for those researching non-profit
organizations. It offers tips for choosing a charity, as well as categorizes charities by
issues.
Three users were assigned three tasks which required them to go two levels deep
within the site to find the appropriate information. All the users struggled to
navigate the site and only one of the three was able to complete a task successfully,
and he was only able to complete that one.
My findings conclude that the site is poorly designed with an emphasis on
cramming information onto it to the dismay of the user. Perhaps other sites that
offer abundant research like Guidestar’s are set up similarly, but for the uninitiated,
it resulted in three frustrated users. Even after trying to complete the three tasks
and surfing the site for awhile, the purpose of Guidestar remained vague.
My recommendation is for a redesign that cuts out the site’s fat, moreover, moves
it within clearer categories and a clearer, more simple layout.

3. Site Analysis www.guidestar.org
1. The image is eye-catching but
unnecessary. A slideshow of multiple images
would give the site movement as well as
provide more information as to the services
Guidestar offers. The verbage on this image
meant nothing to the users I observed.
2. This row of menus is not clearly defined. Its
location is prominent but not enough for the
users I tested to click them and find
information there.
3. This information should be eliminated from
the homepage and moved within proper
headings.
1.
2.
3.

4. Mobile View www.guidestar.org
1. The mobile site mirrors the full site. While
this has the advantage of enabling the
mobile user to have the intended experience,
it will be difficult on a smaller screen as the
site’s vast content will require excessive
pinching, zooming and moving of the
magnified content.
2. My redesign recommendations simplify the
site’s layout by placing greater emphasis on
information hierarchy. A mobile site
employing this architecure would benefit the
mobile user. Example; the header
that begins with Donate and ends with My
Account could be the mobile view., each tab
(8 total) having its own button to ease
thumb scrolling.

5. Summary of Usability Test www.guidestar.org
The website provided much difficulty for the users to navigate and complete the
assigned tasks. The organization of Guidestar’s homepage proved to be unfocused
with no clear hierarchy. Users had no clear idea as to what Guidestar’s purpose is
and why they would ever need to access it.
The site also was missing a clearly labelled HOME button. Employing the Guidestar
logo fooled two of my three subjects who are not accustomed to that technique.
The SEARCH box did not offer a full-site search. It has a drop-down menu but only
one option to choose. This frustrated all users.
The information sections below the image beginning with “Put Your Time to Good
Use in 2013,” confused users and all but one of the titles were clickable. One of my
subjects was angered by this and gave up completing the assigned task.
All the users expressed the need for simplification of the site, better explanation as
to its purpose and more direction or emphasis on the site’s important features.

6. Redesign Strategy www.guidestar.org
An effective redesign would not be difficult to implement. I simply cut out the clutter of information at the
lower half of the page, moved up the footer to streamline the site above. The search bar must be retained but
greater functionality should be added. The header on the top that begins with Donate would be better served
by having a clearly defined tab design with the same blue from the footer. Usability of the site would be
greatly enhanced by implementing these recommendations as it would lessen the overwhelming busyness of
the existing site, with a greater emphasis on its important content and easier access to it.

7. References