INTERACTIVE DESIGN - TASK 3
FANN WONG JING EN｜0382237
Design Principles | Bachelor of Design (Honours) in Creative Media
GCD60904 Interactive design
TABLE OF CONTENT
MODULE INFORMATION BRIEF (MIB)
TASK 3
- User Testing -
Overview
To evaluate the usability and functionality of the productivity website, two non-professional student participants were invited to participate in a moderated usability testing session conducted through an online call. Before the testing began, participants were informed that the website was designed to support studying and productivity through task management and the Pomodoro technique.
Participants were given unlimited time to explore the website and complete a series of predefined tasks independently. After completing the tasks, they were asked several post-test questions regarding navigation, user experience, favourite theme, and suggestions for improvement.
Testing Tasks
Participants were required to complete the following tasks:
- Create one or two tasks in each theme.
- Mark tasks as completed using the checkbox.
- Use the Pomodoro timer in every theme.
- Navigate between different themes.
- Explore the website independently.
User Testing Results
Participant 1 – Xuan Rui : Student (Non-professional)
Navigation Experience - The participant found the website easy to navigate because all icon buttons clearly represented their functions. The interface was simple and intuitive, allowing smooth movement between different pages.
Favourite Theme - The participant preferred the Forest Theme because of its professional appearance, balanced colour palette, and well-organised layout.
Suggestions
- Add sound effects when users click buttons or complete tasks.
- Provide more interaction feedback during task completion.
Participant 2 – Rei : Student (Non-professional)
Navigation Experience - The participant considered the website simple and easy to understand. Although different themes had slightly different interaction styles, all tasks could still be completed successfully.
Favourite Theme - The participant selected the Picnic Theme because it combined attractive illustrations with practical functionality, creating an enjoyable studying atmosphere.
Suggestions
- Improve consistency between different themes.
- Standardise navigation and interaction behaviour.
User Testing Summary
Positive Feedback
Both participants agreed that:
- The website was easy to navigate.
- Icons clearly represented their functions.
- The timer worked smoothly.
- All required tasks could be completed without assistance.
Areas for Improvement
Several improvements were suggested:
- Add interaction sound effects.
- Improve consistency between themes.
- Standardise navigation and user interaction.
- Provide stronger visual feedback after task completion.
Reviewer: Isabel Tang Xin Yi
A peer review was conducted to evaluate the overall user interface, interaction design, visual consistency, and technical implementation of the productivity website.
Strengths
Visual Design
The reviewer praised the overall visual identity of the project. Each theme successfully maintained its own personality while remaining attractive and engaging for users.
User Experience
The sidebar navigation was clear and intuitive, making it easy for users to switch between different themes. The cover page also created a strong first impression.
Technical Implementation
The reviewer appreciated the JavaScript implementation, including:
- Pomodoro timer
- Interactive reward system
- Collision detection animation
- Dynamic user interaction
These features enhanced both functionality and user engagement.
Suggestions
Improve Readability - Some background patterns were visually dense and occasionally reduced text readability.
Improve Consistency - Navigation components such as the “Return to Cover” button should remain consistent throughout every theme.
Responsive Design - Further optimisation for different screen sizes would improve the overall user experience.
Theme Standardisation - Interaction behaviours should remain consistent while preserving the unique visual identity of each theme.
**Waiting for Michelle to complete the survey
REFLECTION
For Task 3, our group of four conducted user testing and collected peer feedback to evaluate the usability, interaction design, visual consistency, and overall experience of our productivity website. As each group member was responsible for a different study theme, this task allowed us to examine whether the four individual designs could function successfully as one complete website.
During the user testing session, two non-professional student participants were asked to create tasks, mark tasks as completed, use the Pomodoro timer, navigate between themes, and explore the website independently. We felt encouraged that both participants were able to complete all the required activities without assistance. They found the icons easy to understand, the timer functioned smoothly, and the overall website was simple to navigate. This showed us that the main functions of our website were understandable and usable.
The most difficult part of the group project was maintaining consistency across all four themes. Since each theme was created by a different group member, the navigation layout, button positions, task interactions, timer behaviour, and popup designs were not always the same. Although the participants could still complete all the activities, these differences could cause confusion when moving from one theme to another.
From this experience, I learned that a group project requires more than combining separate individual designs. We needed to establish shared interaction rules and a consistent user flow before developing each theme. The visual identity of every theme could remain different, but important functions such as navigation, adding tasks, completing tasks, operating the timer, and returning to the cover page should behave consistently.
The participants also suggested adding sound effects and stronger feedback when users clicked buttons or completed tasks. This helped us understand that interaction feedback is important because users need a clear response after performing an action. Without feedback, users may be unsure whether the website has successfully recorded their input. At the same time, we realised that sound and visual feedback should remain simple so that they support the studying experience rather than becoming distracting.
The peer review gave our group another useful perspective. We were pleased that the reviewer appreciated the visual identity of the themes, the cover page, sidebar navigation, Pomodoro timer, interactive reward system, collision detection, and dynamic interactions. These positive comments made us feel that the effort each group member contributed to the project was visible in the final result.
Personally, I found the user-testing process helpful because it allowed me to see the project from the users’ perspective. While working on the website, our group became familiar with the controls and sometimes did not notice inconsistent interactions. Watching other people use the website made these issues much clearer. I initially felt concerned when problems appeared during testing, but I later understood that identifying weaknesses is an important part of improving a design.
Task 3 helped our group understand that user testing and peer review are essential parts of interaction design. The testing confirmed that our website was functional and easy to understand, while also revealing problems involving consistency, readability, responsiveness, and interaction feedback. The feedback gave us a clearer direction for improving the final website.
If we continued developing the project, we would focus on standardising navigation, task interactions, timer behaviour, popup design, and feedback across all four themes. We would also improve responsive layouts and simplify visually distracting backgrounds where necessary. This task taught me that a successful group project should balance individual creativity with a consistent and reliable user experience.
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