Project Overview:
Jung Foundation

Using principles of Cognition, Affect (emotion), Credibility, and Visual Layout, a case study evaluation was conducted of Jung foundation's UX. A summary of the specific principle is described first followed by presenting examples (screenshots of the Jung Foundation’s website), and dissecting usability problems within those principles. A severity rating is also provided.

These principles are based on those described in Steve Krug's books: Don’t Make Me Think, Rocket Surgery Made Easy

Principles of Cognition

Re-Usability (aka Memorability)

Usability pertains to how easy a product is to use. ​

It must be effective, achieving its set goal or task; it must be efficient, measuring how much effort is required to achieve its goal - the less effort required, the more efficient a product is; - and, of course, satisfying - taking into account the level of comfort while using the product. ​ ​

Usability is a property of the interaction between a product, a user and the task, or a set of tasks, that he or she is trying to complete. Re-usability refers to the possible decrement in performance after the user has not used the product for a ‘comparatively long period of time’.

Jung Foundation's re-usability is weak due to the fact that there is simply too much content on the site to keep track of. It isn’t designed well because it requires a lot of reading which increases the amount of cognitive effort required. ​

Severity Rating: 3

Major usability problem: important to fix, so should be given high priority​

Feedback (aka Interaction Design)

From an aesthetic perspective, this product is poorly designed with varying font sizes, colors, overloaded with text, interrupting the user’s experience. ​

The inconsistent layout disrupts the user’s flow - it effects not only the efficiency but also the effectiveness of the experience as well as the satisfaction for the user. The interaction design suffers due to this.​

If the goal is for the user to purchase a course online, the interaction should be made uncomplicated. Instead, the interactions require needless additional cognitive load. ​​

Severity Rating: 3

Major usability problem: important to fix, so should be given high priority​

Prioritization of Information (aka Information Architecture)

There is a lot of information on this site. Nevertheless, it is well separated through menu items. ​

This, however, doesn’t make it easier for the user to navigate efficiently. The amount of information isn’t consistently or effectively laid out (as you can see on the right). ​

Severity Rating: 2

Minor usability problem: fixing this should be given low priority​​

Explicitness (aka Navigation Design)

The navigation design for this particular website is poorly established. ​

Severity Rating: 3

Major usability problem: important to fix, so should be given high priority​

Guessability or Learnability

The user experience design for Jung Foundation seems more learnable than guessable. It is learnable due to the fact that performing a task - for instance, purchasing a course through the site - proves easily difficult after the first completion.​ ​

Principles of Credibility

Design Look (aka Graphic Design)

The persistence of the problem repeatedly occurs - in both mobile and website – hurting the experience of its user. While the purpose of the website has been met, the content has not been showcased to aesthetically satisfy its users. Part of the problem is the poor information design which will be further discussed.​​

Severity Rating: 4

Usability catastrophe: imperative to fix this before product can be released

Information Design/Structure (aka Information Architecture)

The frequency with which this problem occurs is extremely high. Sites that are easy to navigate are seen as being more credible. This website, on the other hand does not accomplish this goal and this occurs in almost every page of the site.​​

Severity Rating: 4

Usability catastrophe: imperative to fix this before product can be released

Usefulness of Information (aka Content Strategy)

Due to the consistency in the Foundation’s goals, the site seems credible.

This Foundation is focused on one purpose. And this is consistent throughout its multiple pages. The purpose of the site is to provide its users with the means to educate themselves on their own psychology and well being. This goal stays consistent which makes the site seem more credible.

The information displayed in every page is very useful to the user. Although there is too much of it to read, requiring the user to put in a lot of effort. ​​​​

Severity Rating: 0

There is no usability problem at all ​

Tone of Content

Products lose credibility when the only purpose seems to be selling things or getting money from users. However, they seem more credible by conveying motives that people find to be admirable. ​

The website does both effectively. There are examples above that display their plea for donation and support from their customers. However, there is also enough content for the sole purpose of educating and providing users with available resources such as audiobook and podcasts, seminars and workshops, and other such data. ​ ​​​​

Severity Rating: 0

There is no usability problem at all​

Principles of Affect (Emotion)

Social

The product definitely benefits the social aspect of emotion for its users by providing, albeit indirectly, the necessary resources for social interactions. The site also does this by presenting forums, workshops, and seminars for its users to attend.

Severity Rating: 1

Cosmetic problem only: need not be fixed unless extra time is available on project​

Psychological

The outcome of using this website and its resources is emotionally satisfying for its users.​

Severity Rating: 3

Major usability problem: important to fix, so should be given high priority​​

Ideological

The website pertains to people’s values in a positive manner and, for the most part, achieves the ideological aspect to satisfy its user.​​

Severity Rating: 0

No usability problem at all​​​

Principles of Visual Layout

Proximity

If items are related to each other, they should be grouped into closer proximity. This helps organize and provide a structure to the elements on a page.​

Severity Rating: 3

Major usability problem: important to fix, so should be given high priority​​​​

Alignment

A product should be conscious about every element it places on its page. To keep the entire page unified, alignment is very important.​​

Severity Rating: 4

Usability catastrophe: imperative to fix this before product can be released​

Repetition

Repetition helps strengthen the reader’s sense of recognition of the entity represented by the design​​

Severity Rating: 1

Cosmetic problem only: need not be fixed unless extra time is available on project.​​

Contrast

Contrast is the difference between two or more elements in a composition. The more the difference between the elements, the greater they are easy to compare and comprehend and that's when they are said to have contrasted with each other​ - uxdesign.cc​​

Severity Rating: 2

Minor usability problem: fixing this should be given low priority​

Conclusion

Although there are definitely usability issues - including cognitive issues, credibility issues, and with visual layout - the information itself on The Jung Foundation website is extremely influential and can benefit anyone who visits the site. The major issues, based on severity ratings, include Information Architecture, Design Look, and Alignment. Still important are issues regarding Re-usability, Interaction Design, Navigation Design, the psychological aspect of emotion, and the proximity of items. These problems should be addressed in order to create a more satisfactory experience for users visiting The Jung Foundation’s website. ​

If you'd like to learn more about this case study, visit this link

Self-coded. Website design and content © 2022 Uma Dhamija