Goodreads User Experience Evaluation
In this project, we delve into the Usability and Design of Goodreads, a popular social cataloging website that serves as a tool for book enthusiasts worldwide. As part of a comprehensive evaluation conducted by our team, consisting of Myself, Ben Bless, Dante Corsetti, and Amanda Roumbos, between February and March 2024, we aimed to understand the user interactions with the platform and the experience of a normal user. We aimed to highlight the strengths and weaknesses of Goodreads ' design and functionality through a systematic approach that included heuristic evaluation, cognitive walkthroughs, user interviews, and usability testing. Our mission was to identify and address usability challenges to refine and enhance the overall user experience, ensuring that the platform not only meets but exceeds the expectations of its diverse user base. This piece takes you along our journey of discovery, analysis, and the pursuit of an excellent and improved user experience for Goodreads.
In our examination of Goodreads, we employed Heuristic and Cognitive evaluations to critique the platform’s user interface and functionality.
I have attached a small slide deck summarizing our findings.
Heuristic and Cognitive Evaluation
Cognitive Walkthrough:
Through this process, we simulated a user's experience in finding and reviewing a book. This approach helped us detect potential challenges in the user's navigation path. We discovered that Goodreads facilitated a generally intuitive experience, especially in discovering new books and managing reading lists. However, the lack of navigational aids, like breadcrumbs, was noted as a point for potential area for improvement.
Heuristic Evaluation:
This method involved a systematic review of the site against established usability principles. We assessed the entire user journey, from registration and book selection to navigation and personalization features. While Goodreads demonstrated strengths in user-friendly sign-up processes and clear language, we identified areas for improvement, such as icon clarity and search functionality enhancements.
User Interviews and Testing
Our user research on Goodreads involved conducting interviews to gather insights directly from the platform's users. This process was instrumental in understanding how people interact with Goodreads, their preferences, and the challenges they face.
Personas and User Scenarios
In our research on Goodreads, we began with screener questions to select interviewees, targeting avid readers engaged in online book communities. The feedback from these interviews, which we analyzed through affinity mapping, revealed common user traits. While users value Goodreads for its extensive book database and community features, appreciating the straightforward account setup and personalized recommendations, they also communicated some challenges in navigating the platform, especially with its search functionality and information organization.
Interview Process and Findings
Based on the interview data, we created user personas to represent the typical Goodreads user. These personas helped us visualize the needs, goals, and pain points of different user segments. We crafted scenarios these personas might encounter while using Goodreads, further guiding our usability testing and design recommendations.
For instance, one common persona was a book lover looking for an easy way to discover new reads and track their reading habits. This persona highlighted the need for an intuitive and seamless navigation experience on Goodreads, pointing towards specific areas for design improvements.
In conclusion, our user interviews and research provided critical insights into how real users interact with Goodreads. The feedback and data collected guided our understanding of the platform’s strengths and areas for improvement, shaping our approach to enhancing the overall user experience on Goodreads.
Icon Clarity and Interface Design:
Users found some of the icons on Goodreads confusing, particularly noting that the icons for 'inbox' and 'discussions' were too similar and could be easily mistaken for one another. Improving the distinctiveness and clarity of these icons would help users navigate more intuitively.
Recommendations From User Testing
Navigation and Breadcrumb Integration:
The lack of navigational breadcrumbs makes it difficult for users to retrace their steps or understand their current location within the site. Implementing breadcrumbs would provide a clearer path and improve the overall navigational flow, making the user experience more seamless.
Search Functionality Enhancement:
The current search bar functionality is limited, restricting users to searching only titles and authors. Enhancing the search feature to allow for more comprehensive queries, such as searching for books by genre, release year, or thematic content, would vastly improve the user’s ability to find relevant content quickly.
Customization and User Assistance:
While Goodreads offers customization options, some users found it overwhelming and difficult to modify their preferences or find help in the FAQ/Help section. Streamlining these options and improving the organization and accessibility of help resources would make the platform more user-friendly.
Reflection
Reflecting on our project to evaluate Goodreads, some areas were a significant learning curve for us. Analyzing the specific features of the application, we were immersed in the real-world application of user experience design. This experience shed light on the nuances of how users interact with digital platforms and the critical role of UX in making these interactions smooth and enjoyable. Our journey through the project was a practical dive into the workflow of user-centered design, which truly highlighted the close relationship of the User and the User Experience Designer
Working collaboratively, we navigated through the process of gathering and analyzing user feedback, which was both challenging and enjoyable. The hands-on experience of conducting user interviews and heuristic evaluations provided us with a deeper understanding of the user's perspective. This project highlighted the iterative nature of UX design, highlighting the importance of continuous refinement and user feedback in creating intuitive and user-friendly experiences. As we reflect on our experience, it's clear that this project has not only honed our UX design skills but also instilled in us a user-first approach that will be fundamental in our future endeavors in the field.