Integrative Conservation
An open source database for a conservationists information needs.
Overview
The Integrative Conservation Clinic is an open-source, frequently updated, and multidisciplinary online platform to support biodiversity conservation decision-making, from planning to implementation to monitoring and evaluation.
Roles and Responsibilities
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User Research
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Ideating
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Prototyping
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Usability Testing
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Visual Design
Design Tools Used
Research
Problem Landscape
There is currently no open source and frequently updated platform for conservationists that covers a broad array of fields. Information that does exist is not actionable and accessible in the way that some groups (e.g. practitioners) need it to be.
Online there are hundreds of websites that provide information about conservation or spaces for conservationists to discuss, but these platforms lack some key features.
"How might we improve the research process for conservationists around the world?"
User Research
For our initial user research we first performed a competitive analysis on any potential competitors that are currently available to our target users (conservationists).
We then performed 11 user interviews with conservationists where we asked them about their current experience with information seeking tools.
Some key information we received from multiple conservationists in our interviews:
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There are too many retrieval barriers
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It is difficult to find reliable sources of information online.
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They have to frequently share information with colleagues.
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Many of them have the same research patterns when looking online.
Product Goals
With all of our initial research, we created a list of product goals and functional requirements that we want to achieve with our final design
of the website.
From our findings we created a list of goals we want our solution to achieve:​
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Simplify the users selection process through relevant recommendations.
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Enable the user to easily fine tune their search with search tools.
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Reduce the amount of time it takes for the user to find something to watch.
User Journey
Empathy Map
We then gathered all of the key information that was shared with us from participants in our initial user interviews and put those that were shared by many into an empathy map.
Personas and Journey Map
Using all of our extensive user research, we created three personas that best portrayed our different target users. A journey map was also created to show the experience of our field researcher persona.
Prototype
Tree Testing
Given the site’s fairly shallow hierarchy, a tree test is best suited for this pursuit. It was used as a way to test some core functions, as well as some labels and location decisions.
The test was performed by eight participants, all falling within the core user group of conservation practitioners. Participants were also invited to share thoughts after the study was completed.
Tree Test Hierarchy
Insights
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For most of the tasks, a large percentage of our participants took an indirect path to the correct page. This means that we need to rework the names of our pages and available paths so that it is easier for our users to find what they are looking for.
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Participants preferred to have main items only available on one page rather than multiple pages.
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On their feedback, most participants mentioned that they feel like they were heading down the correct path but
would become confused by the names and wording used.
Low Fidelity Prototype
After our tree test was completed, we created a low fidelity prototype that could be used for usability testing. Our lofi prototype heavily focuses on the location and navigation of the website rather than the final visual design.
Home Page
Search Results
Discussions
My Workspace
Lofi Usability Testing
In this next stage, the low fidelity prototype was used to conduct usability testing on participants. For this testing we
conducted multiple moderated usability
tests on nine participants.
For these usability tests, participants would be given a scenario and complete the task given the way they would naturally navigate. They were also asked to think aloud so we can get a better idea of their thought process.
Insights
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Out of the 6 scenarios that were used during the tests, 4 of them had a success percentage of 70%. One of them had a success rate of 20%.
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For the pages visited in the task with a low success rates, all participants were confused with the icons used on the website. Many mentioned they would like text along with the icon.
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Many participants recommended some alternate names for pages. These recommendations will be implemented in the next iteration.
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Overall, we learned that the current layout of the website is working well with our users but we will need to re-work the labels and graphics used.
High Fidelity Prototype
Once we completed our low fidelity testing, we moved on to creating a high fidelity prototype. For this iteration we further improved the layout of our website, implemented changes recommended in our first usability testing, added colours and images, and improved navigation features.
Home Page
Search Results
Browse
Workspace
High Fidelity Testing
The testing for our high fidelity prototype was conducted the same way as our low fidelity tests. We were able to conduct moderated usability tests on eight different participants.
With this test we were seeking to hear from our participants their opinion on the look and easy of use of the updates we have made.
Insights
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When participants were first presented with the new design, all of them were very pleased with the changes made.
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This test had a much higher success rate than our previous test. When participants ran into an issue, they were able to quickly figure out where they went wrong and find the correct path.
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Much of the feedback related to improving the names used for pages and providing clear information on where they currently are on the website.
Final Design
Final Design Pages
Home Page
Browse
Search Results
Discussions Results
Article Page
My Workspace