Findings and Recommendations.
Navigation Issues with Sidebar Menu
FINDING
Users experienced confusion and disruption when clicking on items in the sidebar menu, which redirected them to other pages instead of consolidating related information on the same page.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Improve Information Hierarchy: Enhance the spacing and indentation of the sidebar menu to create a clearer information hierarchy and improve readability.
• Consolidate Related Information: Instead of redirecting users to other pages, consider consolidating related information on the same page to maintain consistency and continuity in navigation.
• Reduce Complexity: Streamline the sidebar menu by organizing content into categories and providing clear labels to help users navigate more effectively.
Complexity of Sidebar
FINDING
The overwhelming number of items in the sidebar menu, coupled with a lack of clear hierarchy, made it difficult for users to navigate and locate desired information efficiently. Novice users, in particular, found the sidebar menu daunting and preferred alternative navigation methods.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Simplify Sidebar Design: Simplify the sidebar menu by reducing the number of items and organizing content into logical categories to reduce cognitive load and improve user navigation.
• Provide Hierarchical Navigation: Implement hierarchical navigation within the sidebar menu, allowing users to expand and collapse sections to focus on relevant content and improve usability for both novice and experienced users.
Search Bar and Search Results
FINDING
The search functionality presented challenges, with users often receiving irrelevant or no results when searching for generic terms. The search results did not effectively guide users to the desired information, leading to frustration and confusion.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Enhance Search Functionality: Improve the search algorithm to provide more accurate and relevant results, especially for generic search terms, by incorporating fuzzy matching or synonym recognition.
• Provide Guidance in Search Results: Include contextual information or previews in search results to guide users and help them determine the relevance of each result.
• Implement 'Search This Page' Feature: Introduce an in-built 'search this page' feature to allow users to quickly find specific terms within a page, complementing traditional browser search functionalities.
Content and Examples
FINDING
Users struggled to find relevant examples within the documentation, hindering their ability to comprehend and apply the provided information effectively. Additionally, the lack of variety in examples limited users' understanding of different implementation scenarios.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Diversify Example Scenarios: Expand the range of examples to cover a broader spectrum of implementation scenarios, including common use cases and specific effects like shadows and rounded corners.
• Highlight Example Objectives: Clearly outline the objectives and intended outcomes of each example to provide users with a better understanding of the demonstrated concepts and facilitate comprehension.
Interactive Code Boxes
FINDING
Users appreciated the interactive nature of code boxes, allowing them to experiment with code snippets and quickly understand their functionality. However, the absence of certain features, such as examples demonstrating specific effects like adding shadows, left users with unanswered questions and hindered their learning process.
RECOMMENDATIONS
• Expand Interactive Features: Enhance interactive code boxes to include more features and functionalities, such as examples demonstrating specific effects like shadows, to provide users with comprehensive learning resources.
