Usability and Design Analysis for COMET (COnvergent Media and Exploratory Technologies Lab)

Abstract

The COnvergent Media and Exploratory Technologies (COMET) Lab is an applied research laboratory in the Department of Human-Centered Computing, School of Informatics and Computing, where faculty and students work together to deliver web, mobile and interactive media solutions for projects submitted by units from the IUPUI campus, external organizations and the community at large. The COMET website serves as a portfolio showcasing to stakeholders inside and outside the campus (community) what IUPUI faculty and students do in the COMET Lab. Currently, the site serves six primary audiences: Non-profit or community organizations, for-profit businesses, IUPUI students, IUPUI faculty/staff, and student organizations. Due to the number of users interested in COMET, we considered performing a redesign of the site in order to improve its aesthetics and the user experience. Based on our initial research discovery with our users, we recognized that many users visited the site because they were interested in projects created at SOIC, wanted access to applications developed by COMET, and were searching for a place to discuss project funding. Also, students were interested in Service Learning, civic engagement, or possibilities for an Independent Study/Capstone project. The redesign attempts to meet three goals: 1) attract external and campus stakeholders for potential projects; 2) connect students with projects, and 3) build a system for project partnerships/collaborations. With the new redesign users will be able to search and view featured projects, join a project, or propose a project with COMET (faculty/community). The visual style will be based on material design and the UI brand colors, specifically the IU Majestic and orange as the accent color.