Article — — 1,715 words

Information architecture — User experience — User research

Stylised zipf curve, with a long neck and a long tail. The long neck element is coloured teal, with a gradient fade to white ending about 20% of the way along the curve

One of the most powerful methods in information architecture and user experience is also one of the least well-known. The top tasks method uses a single survey question that tells you exactly what matters most to your users. I find it so effective that I’m amazed more people haven’t used it.

Linknote — — 63 words

User experience — User research

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Top tasks surveys have identified what really matters to students using Learn — Website and Communications Blog

Pie chart of students' top tasks in Learn

As part of our programme of user research in support of the Learn Foundations project, we have carried out a top tasks survey to understand what students need when accessing course materials online.

What we found was that students value three items much more than everything else. Those items are *all* to do with lectures.

See the full post to find out more.

Article — — 1,572 words

Content design — Digital — User experience

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Adapted from a post originally published on the University of Edinburgh Website and Communications blog. We have recently completed a six month collaboration with University Human Resources Services (UHRS) which has delivered a fledgling digital strategy, developed new content management processes and skills within their team, and rationalised priority areas of their website. Human Resources […]

Article — — 1,095 words

Business — Digital — User experience

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Adapted from a post originally published on the University of Edinburgh Website and Communications blog. When working with University Human Resources Services (UHRS) to help them develop a digital strategy, we took a bespoke approach to best meet the needs of their team. In most cases, we would kick off a project like this with […]

Article — — 482 words

Digital — User experience — User research

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Adapted from a post originally published on the University of Edinburgh Website and Communications blog. Over the past few months we have been working with University Human Resources Services (UHRS) to help them develop a digital strategy. To gain a greater understanding of the needs of devolved HR staff, we went out to interview some […]

Article — — 1,076 words

User experience — Web

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Adapted from a post originally published on the University of Edinburgh Website and Communications blog. I had an opportunity to attend a masterclass held by Gerry McGovern, the pioneer of top tasks — a key user research methodology that has been used by our team for ten years. For me, as a new member of […]