1. kcrw.org Dino Anastasia Mellanye Lackey Mary Morgan Abbey Potter

2. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 2 Overview Background Methodology Audience Current Site Observations & Recommendations: –Organization, Labeling, Search, Findability, Navigation Summary

3. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 3 About KCRW… an NPR station a community service of Santa Monica College more than 450,000 listeners each week member-supported with 50,000 subscribers boasts largest youth (25-44) audience among NPR stations programming reflects diversity of community award winning programming includes music; local, national & global news; radio drama; and arts & cultural shows

4. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 4 Goals of KCRW on the Web Provide streaming music and news Generate membership Promote KCRW programming Support community activities Provide access to program archives

5. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 5 Observations are Informed By IA for the WWW by Rosenfeld & Morville Usability tests & audience analysis Card sort exercises Competitive analysis of related sites http://musicplasma.com

6. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 6 Audience: User Personas “I listen to music and get weather and traffic reports from KCRW.org” --Steve “As a longtime member of KCRW, I check the web site for events and benefits for subscribers” --Barry “I use KCRW.org to listen to music at work and to find out about concerts in the area” --Cloe

7. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 7 Current Site link to kcrw.org

8. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 8 Current IA - a BIRD’s eye view Broad Inconsistent Redundant Deep

9. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 9 Organization: “Not a clue” Observation: Organization scheme and structure are unclear and scattered. Recommendation: Eliminate redundancies, develop a more consistent and unified organization scheme. “There doesn’t seem to be any unifying theme.” KCRW Home Page - join/subscribe There are 8 different ways to subscribe/join the KCRW family from the home page alone. Observation: Organization scheme and structure are unclear and scattered.

10. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 10 Organization: “Cognitive Model” Observation: Hard to create a consistent cognitive model of the site. Recommendation: Group similar links and content areas together and carry this layout through the entire site. “Seems like I’ve been somewhere before where I found this information.” KCRW Home Page - wireframe Observation: Hard to create a consistent cognitive model of the site.

11. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 11 Labels: Ambiguous Labeling “KCRW presents” is a listing of live shows in L.A. New York, San Francisco, AND BEYOND? “Calendar” is a calendar of groups playing at local establishments and listings of “KCRW presents”? “KCRW programming” is a synopsis of the awards KCRW has received? Observation: Labels are hazy as to their meaning. Recommendation: Labels need to be more descriptive regarding the content they represent. Observation: Labels are hazy as to their meaning.

12. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 12 Labels: Uncontrolled Vocabulary Observation: Labels aren’t implemented consistently across the site. “Do join and subscribe mean the same thing?” Recommendation: Create a controlled vocabulary and implement it reliably within the site structure. Observation: Labels aren’t implemented consistently across the site.

13. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 13 Labels: Non-Descriptive Labels Observation: Program names that are used as Labels do not give good “scent” as to their content. Recommendation: Use Labels that acquaint the user to the content it represents. Observation: Program names that are used as Labels do not give good “scent” as to their content. Recommendation: Use Labels that acquaint the user to the content it represents.

14. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 14 Labels: Poor Label Navigation Observation: Same label name navigates to different locations. Program Grid navigation from Home Page Program Grid navigation from News Page Recommendation: Maintain consistent label navigation. Observation: Same label name navigates to different locations.

15. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 15 Search: find it! page Observation: Format of results problematic in sorting, look, findability. Recommendation: Move ‘search again’ to top of page; make text of results obviously different; number results; highlight sorting mechanism; clarify ‘other results’. Observation: Format of results problematic in sorting, look, findability. Recommendation: Move ‘search again’ to top of page; make text of results obviously different; number results; highlight sorting mechanism; clarify ‘other results’. link to kcrw.org/find

16. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 16 Search: Results differ Observation: Results vary depending on where user starts search. Recommendation: Make home page search box and find it! page search same place. Observation: Results vary depending on where user starts search. Recommendation: Make home page search box and find it! page search same place. Home Page FIND IT Page

17. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 17 Findability: Where’s KCRW? Observation: Poor findability from Internet search engines. Recommendation: Research and prominently feature the most popular search terms on the pages of kcrw.org, in the title and descriptor HTML tags. Observation: Poor findability from Internet search engines. Recommendation: Research and prominently feature the most popular search terms on the pages of kcrw.org, in the title and descriptor HTML tags.

18. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 18 Navigation: Too Flexible Observation: Too much information, illogical redundancies, inconsistencies in links. Recommendation: Eliminate redundancies and inconsistencies in links and group content into logical hierarchical categories. “Too complicated.” Observation: Too much information, illogical redundancies, inconsistencies in links. Recommendation: Eliminate redundancies and inconsistencies in links and group content into logical hierarchical categories.

19. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 19 Navigation: “Where am I?” Observation: Global navigation is not easily identifiable. Recommendation: Rename and consolidate major sections, tone down graphics, enlarge font size. “I got lost a lot.” Observation: Global navigation is not easily identifiable. Recommendation: Rename and consolidate major sections, tone down graphics, enlarge font size.

20. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 20 Navigation: “What’s Here?” Observation: Local navigation doesn’t provide clues about what’s available. Recommendation: Move and rename local navigation links. Use contextual navigation for links outside sections. “There doesn’t seem to be any unifying theme.” link to “Program Grid” page Observation: Local navigation doesn’t provide clues about what’s available. Recommendation: Move and rename local navigation links. Use contextual navigation for links outside sections.

21. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 21 Navigation: “What’s This?” “ Organization appeared random.” Arts & Culture Program Grid Observation: Inconsistent and irrelevant bottom links. Recommendation: Mirror global navigation in bottom links; add useful links like “Contact us” or “Copyright Information”. Observation: Inconsistent and irrelevant bottom links. Recommendation: Mirror global navigation in bottom links; add useful links like “Contact us” or “Copyright Information”.

22. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 22 Navigation: “What the -?” Observation: Keyword drop-down menu has poor usability, is poorly labeled, and is overused. Recommendation: Eliminate drop-down menu, use a site index. Consolidate and organize contextual links. “No descriptions for drop downs” link to kcrw.org Observation: Keyword drop-down menu has poor usability, is poorly labeled, and is overused. Recommendation: Eliminate drop-down menu, use a site index. Consolidate and organize contextual links.

23. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 23 Next Steps Recommend IA strategy –Clarify overall schema –Improve labeling –Enhance search and findability –Make navigation consistent Content Analysis, Wireframes Unite content – context – user needs

24. November 16, 2004 http://kcrw.org/ SI 658 - Fall 2004 24 Fin.