Website Usability Evaluation: The ParenT(w)een Connection 

UX Analysis & Evaluation

The Problem

The ParenT(w)een Connection website is designed to support both parents and professionals by providing resources, community connections, and opportunities for engagement. However, serving multiple audiences within a single platform introduces complexity in how content is organized and accessed.

The initial evaluation revealed several usability challenges that affect the overall user experience. The site’s navigation structure does not clearly differentiate pathways for its primary audiences, leading to confusion about where to start and how to find relevant content. Key actions, such as joining the community, exploring resources, or connecting with others, are not immediately visible or easily accessible, requiring users to navigate multiple pages to complete basic tasks.

These issues create friction in the user journey, increasing cognitive load and making it more difficult for users to efficiently find information or engage with the platform. As a result, the site risks reduced usability, lower engagement, and missed opportunities to connect users with the resources it is designed to provide.

Evaluation Method

This evaluation was conducted using a structured usability review informed by heuristic evaluation principles and task-based analysis. The goal was to assess how effectively users can navigate the site, locate key information, and complete common actions. This approach was selected due to the lack of direct user data, requiring a structured expert review to identify usability issues. 

Key pages were reviewed to simulate typical user journeys, focusing on how both parents and professionals might interact with the site to access resources, explore content, and engage with the community.

The evaluation focused on the following areas:

• Navigation and site structure: Clarity of pathways, menu organization, and ease of movement between pages

• User flow and link functionality: Ability to complete key tasks (e.g., joining, exploring resources, connecting) without friction

• Visual hierarchy and content layout: Use of headings, spacing, and design elements to guide attention and support readability

• Accessibility considerations: Font readability, color contrast, and use of alt text for images

• Consistency across pages: Alignment in layout, labeling, and interaction patterns

While not exhaustive, this review provides a representative assessment of the site’s usability across the primary pages and highlights key areas that impact the overall user experience.

Key Findings

The usability evaluation revealed several recurring issues impacting navigation, consistency, and overall user experience. Findings were prioritized based on their impact on usability, accessibility, and the ability to complete core user tasks. 

🔴 High Priority - Navigation and Functionality Breakdowns

Several critical navigation issues disrupted the user experience and prevented successful task completion. Key navigation links did not consistently direct users to their intended destinations, and portions of the homepage navigation contained broken or incorrect redirect paths.

These issues create significant friction in the user journey, as users are unable to reliably access key areas of the site. As a result, essential actions such as exploring resources or engaging with the platform become difficult or impossible to complete.

🟡 Medium Priority - Visual Consistency and Content Presentation

A number of inconsistencies were identified in visual design and content layout. Broken media links and embedded content (e.g., 404 errors) interrupted the flow of information, while inconsistent button styling across pages reduced clarity around interactive elements. Additionally, uneven text distribution impacted visual alignment and readability.

While these issues do not fully block task completion, they contribute to a less cohesive user experience and may reduce user trust and engagement over time.

🟢 Additional Observations

Additional usability concerns were identified that impacted overall clarity and accessibility. The use of multiple font types (six or more across the site) created visual inconsistency, limited accessibility (e.g., missing alt text), and reduced usability for some users.

Additionally, the site’s dual-audience structure (serving both parents and professionals) introduced navigation ambiguity, making it less clear how users should access content most relevant to their needs.

Outcome/Impact

This evaluation provided the client with a prioritized set of usability improvements to strengthen navigation, accessibility, and the overall user experience. By translating technical usability issues into clear, actionable recommendations, the report offers a practical roadmap for improving how users interact with the site and complete key tasks.

The findings highlighted the importance of clear navigation pathways, particularly when designing for multiple audiences with different goals. Addressing these issues can reduce user frustration, improve content discoverability, and create a more intuitive and engaging experience for both parents and professionals.

This project also reinforced the value of structured usability evaluation methods in identifying patterns that may not be immediately visible through surface-level review. If expanded further, the next step would involve direct user testing to validate these findings and measure the impact of proposed improvements on user behavior and task success.

Post-Evaluation Observations

Following the completion of this usability evaluation, updates to the website were observed that align with several of the identified usability concerns, particularly in areas related to navigation clarity and content organization. While it cannot be confirmed that these changes were directly influenced by this evaluation, the alignment between the recommendations and subsequent improvements highlights the relevance of the identified usability issues and reinforces the importance of user-centered design in supporting effective engagement.