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User Path Overview
The typical visitor to the Minnesota Unemployment Insurance website (uimn.org) is a Minnesota citizen who has recently lost their job or seen their hours greatly reduced. They are either a returning visitor coming to update their information, complete a weekly claim, or begin an application. The user’s generally come in with an understandably negative mindset- they are typically enduring a tough time financially and are anticipating a complicated process to receive their unemployment insurance.
Research Methodology
This user interface case study focuses on the user that is either trying to claim unemployment insurance or is attempting to find new employment (unemployment claim is the main use of the site, helping users find employment is the ultimate goal of the site.) From this perspective, I conducted usability tests with 4 individuals ranging in experience with the site. Simultaneously, I conducted a heuristic evaluation of the site pages used to file a weekly unemployment insurance claim and search for reemployment.
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Usability Tests Takeaways
Heuristic Evaluation
Home Page
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Welcome Page
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Existing User Homepage
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Reemployment Page
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Website Navigation
What needs to change?
From my evaluation and user test findings, I found myself with a laundry list of changes to be made. Some of the issues I found include- parts of the site do not meet color accessibility standards, I could not find discernable information hierarchy, and the website text does not translate properly when switching languages, making the difficult to use for non-English speakers.
Those were just some of the UI issues I discovered, which led me to the decision to redesign the site from scratch. I started with reimagining the sites mapping with a focus on universal usability and information hierarchy.
Current site map
New site map
UI Style
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Why?
To improve users emotional response, baby blue is used extensively throughout the site due to its psychological associations with tranquility, trustworthiness and reliability.
Lo-Fi Prototype Testing Takeaways
I gained feedback from user testing on low fidelity mobile and web prototypes. While the sub navigation menus were successful in getting users to their end goal much quicker, the arrows did not offer any affordance to users of the menus operation and thus were moved in the final prototype. Other changes made included creating a web page to inform the users that they are entering the "apply for benefits" page and making the header and footer logos link back to the homepage.
Final Prototype
Applying for benefits on website
Login page for
mobile site
Next Steps
Due to time constraints, there were a few things I did not have the opportunity to address. The current site homepage has a slideshow with helpful information and links and I would like to carry that over into my design as well. I would also like to add more animations to both the mobile site and website. Finally, I would love to get in touch with someone who maintains the current site to get more information on their information architecture, their design priorities, and hear their thoughts on the changes I've made.
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