MapLight.org - Usability Assessment

"The project helped show us the user-centered design process from the ground up. It showed how effective the process was and how we could do it ourselves in the future... We had read books about usability testing and user-centered design, but you helped us learn the skills and demystified the process. It’s a new skillset that our organization can continue to use on our own." 

-Daniel Newman, Co-Founder, Executive Director of MapLight.org

Challenge

MapLight provides citizens and journalists with transparency tools to highlight the influence of money on politics. The MapLight website contains original research and a mash-up of data from external sources. Journalists thought highly of the organization and praised it as a groundbreaking resource, yet found the website difficult to navigate and were not aware of many of its features.

Solution

The first round of user engagement focused on understanding the workflow of journalists. CivicActions led contextual interviews to gain insight into how users accessed information within their own environment. Journalists’ priorities became clear through observing their interactions with the existing MapLight website.

In the second phase of work, the team assessed findings from user interviews and created wireframes for usability testing. MapLight focused on wireframe creation, with guidance and feedback from CivicActions. This hands-on approach empowered MapLight staff to integrate their subject matter expertise into the design and content of the site. It also provided them with tools and skills that improved their internal workflow, allowing content editors and in-house developers to communicate more effectively.

CivicActions designed and led the usability tests, with a member of the MapLight team documenting the process. First-hand observation of journalists provided invaluable and often surprising insights into navigation patterns. In many cases, users requested specific design solutions, such as having a page with the hottest new research. Usability testing provided journalists with a forum to voice what they needed for the website to be a primary source for lead generation.

Results

• Clarity in how journalists select leads, research stories, and use data
• Insight into variations within user group (TV reporters, print journalists)
• Anticipated increase in use of research services, by highlighting unique offerings and contact info
• Training in user-centered design process and techniques
• Transformation of internal workflow between developers and content editors