Navigation Northstar Concept Testing Round 2
Results |
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Concept Super Sidebar was preferred as it allowed for more intuitive navigation between projects without losing context. Super Sidebar supported both mature and new GitLab user better in their most common workflows. In comparison concept Element Reswizzle was easier to use for mature GitLab users only. Element Reswizzle offered elements (icons, tool tips) that users would like to see included in Super Sidebar. Full report for details. |
Dovetail project |
What’s this issue all about?
In a previous research round six different design concepts addressing known navigation challenges were evaluated. Research insights helped to narrow down the number of concepts, to refine them and create new concepts.
Revised concepts
Element Reswizzle | Super Sidebar |
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These concepts work to incorporate the insights and features that resonated with users from the previous round, such as:
- Elevating the breadcrumbs (as it's a known aid for wayfinding and navigation)
- Simplifying left navigation items while maintaining fast access to common features
- A way for users to pin navigation items important to them ("Favorites")
- Increasing prominence of Search
- Project/Group switcher to be able to easily change contexts when needed
Other things we are evaluating:
- Maintaining top navbar vs. consolidating those items into the left sidebar
- An improved home dashboard experience
- Switching contexts in page vs. going back to a Home/Dashboard page
- Relocation of Assigned Issues/MRs/To-dos to the User menu
What questions are you trying to answer?
We want to further validate two concepts that evolved from the first round of research. The goal of the research is to increase the confidence in the design direction by extending the number of relevant user personas to be included in the evaluation (and with that increasing the number and variety of tasks to be evaluated).
Core questions
- How do Developers, Product Managers and Security Professionals feel about the different navigation concepts?
- What aspects are working well for them?
- What isn’t working well?
- How do the different navigation concepts support Developers, Product Managers and Security Professionals with their most common workflows?
- Are they able to succeed with their most common tasks? Why/Why not?
- How do new GitLab users perceive the navigation concepts compared to mature GitLab users?
What decisions will you make based on the research findings?
Ideally at the end of the research the team is confident about one solution to move forward with (either one taken into testing or a hybrid/new concept based on the learnings of this round).
Next steps (incl. due dates and DRI)
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Finalize research plan (September 2) @alasch -
Initiate recruiting (September 2) @alasch -
Finalize prototypes (September 9) @aregnery / @nickbrandt -
Run pilot tests (September 12) @alasch -
Run moderated and unmoderated sessions for Product Manager, Developers, Security Professionals (September 19 - 23) @alasch @nickbrandt (maybe @tauriedavis) -
Data analysis and draft report Developers (September 30) @alasch -
Data analysis and draft report for Product Manager and Security Professionals (October 12) @alasch -
Finalize prototypes for Ops Professionals (October 14) @nickbrandt -
Pilot and run moderated and unmoderated sessions for Ops Professionals (October 17 - 21) @alasch -
Data analysis for Ops Professionals (October 26) @alasch -
Final report (November 2) @alasch
Useful links
Prototype 1 - @aregnery
Prototype 2 - @nickbrandt
Prototypes to be tested