iPoll: Roper Center for Public Opinion

iPoll is a comprehensive database of public opinion data housed by the Roper Center for Public Opinion Research at Cornell University. It offers access to nearly a million questions and responses from national public opinion surveys conducted in the United States since the 1930s. This resource provides valuable insights into historical and current perspectives on various topics, allowing researchers to track changes in public sentiment over time.

Scope: Masters Capstone
Duration: One Semester (5 months)
Tools: Figma, FigJam
Role: UX Researcher & Designer

CONTEXT

The Roper Center's iPoll platform is focused on enhancing user interaction and satisfaction through a meticulous assessment of its interface usability. Recognizing the need for improvement, our team embarked on a comprehensive project aimed at refining and optimizing the iPoll experience. This involved conducting heuristic evaluations, competitor comparisons, and extensive user research. Through these analyses, we identified key usability challenges and opportunities for enhancement. Our goal was to improve the interface to not only met the functional needs of users but also adhered to the best practices in usability and design.

PROBLEM

We've identified a significant usability issue with the iPoll interface, where users encounter difficulties navigating and utilizing its features effectively. This challenge has led to reduced engagement and satisfaction, highlighting the urgent need for a redesign that enhances interface intuitiveness and user interaction.

UNDERSTAND THE DESIGN PROBLEM

How can we enhance the iPoll interface to improve user engagement and satisfaction while ensuring adherence to recognized usability principles?

SOLUTION

To address this, we embarked on a multi-phase project that included heuristic evaluations based on Jakob Nielsen’s principles, competitor analysis, and extensive user research. The insights garnered from these activities informed the development of a redesigned interface that prioritizes ease of use, efficient information retrieval, and a more engaging user experience.

RESEARCH

Bound by a NDA, I am limited to discussing only certain aspects of the process.

USER
INTERVIEW

Our user research involved hands-on tasks with iPoll, where users interacted with the interface and provided feedback through a structured interview process. This direct engagement highlighted critical areas for improvement and reaffirmed the need for an interface that better supports user navigation and task completion without unnecessary complexity.

DATA ANALYSIS

Our team employed a data-driven approach to understand user interactions and interface challenges. We began by collecting comprehensive analytics on how users navigated and utilized the iPoll website. This involved tracking user pathways, identifying common breakpoints, and analyzing user feedback from previous interactions. With this data, we performed a heuristic evaluation to pinpoint discrepancies between current design practices and established usability principles. The findings from this analysis guided our redesign efforts, ensuring that each modification was backed by solid empirical evidence to enhance user satisfaction and engagement.

INSIGHTS

We extracted five pivotal insights unanimously resonating with all participants

• Advocating for enhanced access to safe transportation options.
• Demand for Portable BAC Testing Tools
• Cornell students fear drugging, impacting their decisions-making abilities
• Engaged in friends tracking for safety concerns
• Majority of student activities are centralized in collegetown or downtown Ithaca

COMPETITIVE AUDIT

We also conducted a comparative analysis of iPoll against five major competitors using the same heuristic principles. This audit helped us identify strengths in competitors’ interfaces that iPoll could adopt or adapt, providing a clear direction for enhancing functionality and user interaction patterns.

HIGH-FI MOCKUPS

The culmination of our findings was channeled into the development of wireframes and high-fidelity prototypes. These were designed to incorporate best practices gleaned from our research, focusing on improving visibility, consistency, and error management. The prototypes were iteratively refined based on stakeholder feedback and prepared for further testing and eventual implementation.

REFLECTION

Creating a modern solution for responsible alcohol consumption required me to integrate best practices in user interface design with a personalized user experience. This included the development of a physical product—a car key—and a sophisticated understanding of Blood Alcohol Concentration (BAC) levels. The project demanded meticulous attention to how different features might impact user choices, ensuring that the solution was customized for each individual, and refining the integration of the car key itself.

Introducing a technology like IntoxiBlock, which imposes certain restrictions, naturally encountered some resistance. This experience highlights the delicate balance required between enforcing safety measures and respecting personal freedom, emphasizing the need for clear, persuasive communication to build user acceptance and trust.

KEY TAKEAWAY

User-centered design is crucial in uncovering detailed requirements and navigating complex challenges such as resistance to new restrictions, the balance of personal freedom, and the necessity of clear, compelling communication to foster acceptance and trust.