User Interface - if UI is good then UX is good, the design, the aesthetic. e.g. how big the buttons are, check boxes, swipes etc.
*great product experience starts with UX design followed by UI
-RESPONDING TO UX WITH UI
UX - Function and impact of function. The user experience
UI - Form, look and style.
GROUP TASK:
In small groups evaluate UX/UI of an existing example of design for screen.
What works/ What could be improved?
Who are the target audience? Does it work on them? Does it work for me?
*Ensure you are considering the UX/UI of your own 'design fro screen'.
For our group, we decided to evaluate Google Drive, as collectively we all had frustrations on our experience with the DFS, therefore we thought it was a good idea to pinpoint all the things that we noticed.
Main Page - Upon going to the website, we immediately didn't like how we have to click an extra button to actually go to 'Google Drive' itself. We thought it was quite redundant and doesn't really do what we want it to do already giving us a bad user experience. There's also a 'Meet Drive' option which we also thought didn't make much sense as it could've been just 'Home' or not there at all, because when we clicked it, it didn't take us anywhere but just reloaded the page that we were already on. To solve this problem, we thought that eliminating this page altogether and actually taking us to the actual drive would be better, as it lessens the clicking and actually takes us to where we want to go in the first place. However, Kristen did say that if you search 'drive' instead of 'google drive' (A) it actually take you to the actual drive, therefore this may be one of the niche shortcuts that only certain people know. If this website was to be used by less tech-savvy people e.g. businessmen they may not know this shortcut, therefore how this information is accessed is also different as younger users may know better and more complicated shortcuts to use.
A)
Quick Access - I personally thought the Quick Access page was quite useful because it allowed me to have a visual of the latest thing that I've uploaded as I tend to forgot what I've uploaded already. It prevented me from going onto the 'Recent' option which would've taken me an extra click. However, my peers thought it was a bit distracting and they didn't like how the pictures are there and how only a certain amount of latest pictures are shown. To solve this problem, we thought that maybe the quick access tool could just be an option instead were users can decided whether they will have it on their main files page.
Shared With Me - We found this option in Google Drive very distracting and confusing as well and collectively agreed that we didn't like how it's set out. This option sets the files in a very weird and random order that you don't know which files is for which and which folder is for which. Therefore, to solve this problem, we thought of using folders which signifies who is the creator of the file which then identifies which files go were. It also prevents on seeing multiple users, because they will be put on the same folders avoiding repetition and confusion.
No New Window Option - We also thought not being able to create a new window was a bit frustrating as it takes a long time to move files to different folders. We thought if there was a button or shortcut where a new window could be made in order to drag documents and folders to other folders it would speed up the process much quicker and improve the user experience, instead of doing the same movement again and again.
Confusing Shortcuts - We also found the shortcuts quite confusing and a bit long-winded. We thought having a separate keyboard shortcut for the website was a bad idea as us users already have a 'universal shortcut' that we know of, therefore trying to learnt a new set would be really annoying and tiring in the user's experience. Maybe being able to adapt and use the same shortcuts as other websites and applications would've been more efficient and effective as it speeds up the process while using the website. For example, we found that simple shortcuts like Ctrl + C and Ctrl V don't even exist which is one of the basics that's needed when moving and selecting files in a file saving website/app. Also, for deleting it's actually Fn + Delete or #, which is completely useless in the first place because it could've been just 'Delete' if they wanted to make a shortcut for it.
Can only upload max 10 - We also used the app version of the website. For iPhones, when Google Drive is downloaded its automatically linked to the Photos and gallery therefore you can just select photos from your gallery to upload to drive. However, as I frequently use this, I knew that you can only upload 10 photos max at a time which was a bit annoying, and I actually find the actual app to be more useful as it abled me to upload however much photos I wanted and which folder I wanted to put it in as well. In a way they app is useful, however the link towards the actual gallery could be better. Maybe if the same principle was put towards the gallery link with the app use the app would be much more effective. Though, maybe because I use an iPhone I have less access with google drive, than people that have a Google affiliated phone, because Kristen can actually do more options than me while using Drive on her phone, therefore it may also just be about the kind of phone brand that a user has.
Click twice for shareable link - The sharing option can also be confusing. You're not really sure if you're only sharing it with people your intending to share to, or with everyone in your contact. It's also a bit useless of having a shareable link and another option for sharing a file because they're basically the same thing? The
Storage use shows - A good thing about Drive though, is that the number of storage space you've used in shown therefore you will always know how much space you have left and how much you've used already.
Account change is easy - It's also very easy for you to change between accounts if you've got multiple accounts that you're managing and it's also clearly shown and pointed out on the upper right hand side of the page, which is quite logical I think as I think as we're used to using UI's Main menu's have been on the upper right, therefore naturally we lean towards this area for main options.
Download is zipped - Downloads are zipped which are quite long. It could just be downloaded as the actual folder? Though it's understandable to zip the folder if the files are big however if you're only downloading 2 photos zipping should be unnecessary. Perhaps if there was a limit to how big the download has to be before it's zipped, it would make this process much easier.
Thoughts & Reflection:
Overall, I quite enjoyed this exercise as it made me question every single detail that a website/ app has in relation to the user experience and user interface. I've also found a lot of things wrong about Google Drive, that perhaps if I was to use it again it will just remind me of all the things that we've thought were redundant and useless that the website. It may ruin my UX even more! However, on the other hand, I thought that thinking of all these problems and giving them solutions to make the UI better also helped me in thinking about my own DFS brief and idea as I think now that I've started to think about lots of aspects regarding with DFS with existing DFS's it will give me a better idea of what to do and what not to do in my own DFS in relation to my target audience and concept idea.
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