Cogapp competition winner to reap usability testing rewards

Norwood, the winner of Cogapp’s website usability day (launched for charities on World Usability Day last year) has now reported back on the free consultancy and user testing it won to improve their websites effectiveness. Norwood, which supports people with learning disabilities and children and families in need, won four one-on-one in-depth user-testing sessions, followed by a workshop.

The usability testing, which comprised a mixture of potential and current users of Norwood’s services, was set up in a special education centre managed by the charity. Four user-testing sessions took place, which were observed by stakeholders from the charity, including the Head of Marketing. The results found that the charity needs to improve how it engages with users online, primarily by better conveying the positive impact they have on thousands of families and service users. The tone and messages online didn’t match the power of the services they provide.

Furthermore, the use of images and other visuals did not adequately reflect the level of work the charity delivers and it did not create the expected emotional response. Based on these user testing findings and the workshop, Norwood now has a brief on how to get their message across more directly, and to take their website to the next level.

Saul Levitt, Norwood’s new media manager, said: “With a diverse range of people looking for information on Norwood online, it has been difficult in the past to know where best to start improving the way in which we engage with people via the web. This competition prize from Cogapp has been invaluable and we fully intend to make some drastic changes to our websites in order to better communicate how we provide life-changing support to thousands of children, families and adults each year.

“The user testing gave us a great place to start and we hope to continue a dialogue with Cogapp to implement some of these changes in the near future, concluded Saul.

Cogapp has also delivered user research and consultancy for Macmillan Cancer Support, Arthritis Research Campaign, Transport for London, Business Link, The National Archives and the London Organising Committee for the Olympic and Paralympic Games/London 2012 among many others. The team are members of the Usability Professionals Association and were awarded the Digital Media Award 2008 for User Experience work on the British Museum's website, having doubled unique visitors, visits and page views within six months.

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Notes for Editors:

Cogapp (www.cogapp.com) helps clients deliver digital media and user experience projects from building websites and interactive installations to next-generation mobile applications. The company provides user experience expertise with user testing, user-centred design, information architecture and digital strategy consulting. As a digital pioneer founded in 1985, the consultancy also offers planning, editorial, operations, marketing, management and advertising services.  Cogapp employs 30 staff and numerous associates, and operates nationally and internationally from an office in Brighton and an outpost in New York. Clients include Macmillan Cancer Support, Arthritis Research Campaign, the Arts Council England, British Museum, the BBC, the Home Office, Macmillan Cancer Support, Prudential and the Metropolitan Museum of Art in New York.

For more information, please contact:
Vicki Hughes
PR Consultant, Cogapp
Tel: + (0) 7775 513 541
Mail: vickih@cogapp.com