INTERNET USER EXPERIENCE 2008
April 1-3, 2008
Morris Lawrence Building, Ann Arbor, MI
A conference spotlighting methods for dramatically improving today's web site user experience
Presentations
Redesigning TCS.com with Remote Research
Wednesday, April 2nd, 10:30 AM - NOON
Chris Farnum
Senior Information Architect
Enlighten
Abstract
Imagine observing a user in Denmark explore your prototype from a conference room in Michigan as your clients observe the live session online from Mumbai and Chicago. This case study will demonstrate how remote user research shaped the redesign of the Tata Consultancy Services website. Two rounds of remote user research enabled a multidisciplinary design team to create personas and transform the site to better address the needs of worldwide prospects, current customers, analysts, and career seekers. The solution was an improved information architecture, navigation, page templates, a new look and feel, value added features like an interactive map, and a new content management platform (Microsoft Office Sharepont Server 2007). Before and after pictures, as well as interim wireframes and designs, will illustrate how we moved from point A to point B.
During this presentation we'll discuss:
- the challenges of working witha very select and widely distributed audience
- remote testing methods for card sorting
- medium-fidelity prototyping
- workarounds for international remote testing
Background: Tata Consultancy Services is one of the leading worldwide information technology companies and has been growing at a phenomenal pace. Its global revenues in 2006-7 were USD 4.3 billion, and it now has over 100K employees worldwide. The TCS reputation at home in India is gold standard. This past year the company has been taking a close look at how to better market itself online and connect with its audience around the world, particularly in North America. In 2007 TCS engaged Enlighten (Ann Arbor, MI) to assist in redesigning TCS.com. The new site is due to launch in early 2008.
About the Speaker
Chris' role is to define site structure and navigation based on user needs, strategic objectives, and well-organized content. He also specializes in creating taxonomies and defining the metadata needed for searching, browsing and content management. An essential part of his methodology is to incorporate user research into the design process. Chris has been an Information Architect for over eight years. His experience prior to joining Enlighten includes working at ProQuest Information and Learning, where he was instrumental in redesigning the ProQuest search interface. He has also worked for a wide array of clients as a consultant with Argus Associates and Compuware. His preparation for being an Information Architect includes working as a professional librarian and earning a Masters in Information and Library Studies from the University of Michigan.