The evaluation of Twitter's interface focused on a Heuristic Evaluation method, where usability experts assessed the interface against established usability principles. We also incorporated the System Usability Scale (SUS) to quantify the user experience. Our findings highlighted several key areas for improvement:
Login/Signup Flow: Users found the positioning of the Google login button under the registration section confusing, which violated the principle of visibility of system status. This confusion led to a higher error rate and frustration.
Search Functionality: The advanced search option forced users to re-enter their search queries, reducing flexibility and efficiency. This issue violated the heuristic of flexibility and efficiency of use.
Premium Subscription: The placement of the "Subscribe to Premium" button on the home page caused confusion, as it took up unnecessary space for users who were not interested in premium services.
These issues were not only a source of frustration but also detracted from the smooth flow of user interactions within the platform.
Heuristic Evaluation informed a structured redesign process aimed at addressing these key usability issues.
Login/Signup Flow: We redesigned the login and registration process to clearly separate the two actions and repositioned the Google login button to ensure it was intuitive for users to understand. This adjustment aligned with the heuristic of Visibility of System Status, reducing user confusion and improving the flow.
Search Functionality: To enhance Flexibility and Efficiency of Use, we integrated the advanced search features into the main search interface, allowing users to adjust search parameters without starting from scratch. This change made the search experience smoother and more user-friendly.
Premium Subscription: We relocated the "Subscribe to Premium" button to a more relevant section of the platform, improving the user experience by aligning it with the Consistency and Standards heuristic. This ensured that users only encountered premium offers when exploring related features, reducing unnecessary distractions.
Each of these improvements was rigorously tested with a new round of user feedback, confirming that the changes had significantly enhanced the platform’s usability.
To assess the effectiveness of these redesigns, we conducted usability testing with a group of 5 users. Each participant completed key tasks across the redesigned sections while we measured their interactions and gathered qualitative feedback.
The results were promising:
Login/Signup Flow: All 5 participants were able to navigate the login process without confusion, with a 20% reduction in time taken to complete the task compared to the original flow.
Search Functionality: Users reported that the integrated advanced search saved them time, with a 30% improvement in task efficiency, as they no longer had to re-enter search parameters.
Premium Subscription: The distraction caused by the premium subscription button was reduced, and participants found it easier to focus on relevant tasks. Three out of five users mentioned the new placement felt more logical and less intrusive.
The post-test SUS score averaged at 82, reflecting high satisfaction levels across all participants. These tests demonstrated that even small user groups can provide valuable insights for improving large-scale platforms like Twitter.
