As you look at both sets of instructions, each are very similar. The novice is in a larger page 8.5 x 11 in. due to I needed more room as I wrote the instructions. I tried to make this so it would be different than just writing. I used large bubbles to capture the user’s attention for each step and to keep them from drifting to another step. I used arrows for a guide rather than numbers, I was thinking for a younger novice, this may be helpful.
The experienced instructions I tried to have an easier approach. I want the user to be able to easily scan and identify steps with out getting trapped in the bubbles. Instead of just using white space I decided to go with the red bar across the page to completely distinguish the steps apart from one another. Each step is identified with a numeric value; I feel that the step the user should follow sequentially. These directions are intended to capable users and not for beginners. I am using 7.5 x 10 for these instructions, the reason I have chosen this size is so that I can place into a cook book that I own. Also, with it being smaller it is easier to place in a convenient place in a kitchen.
My main concern is the clarity of the pictures. For each picture they will be too small for the user to understand what is contained in the picture.
Answering the usability test question, answer and label the questions and reply in a comment to this blog.
Usability test
Here’s my thoughts after my run through.
1) Read through both instructions and give strength and weaknesses of each.
Both have very strong pictures that help supplement the instructions. I think the layout of the experienced set is actually more suitable for the novice instructions because they are top to bottom with numbers and easier to follow through. The number arrows on the novice “preparing” picture is a very good idea.
2) Have you ever made Jambalaya? If so how do these instructions compare. If this is your first time how did you like it? (experience and taste)
No. I liked it a lot and will be making it more often.
3) Did you follow the instructions and were able to make Jambalaya? If so, which set of instructions did you follow and why did you choose that set?
Yes, I followed the experienced instructions because the straight column setup was easier for me to read and more visually appealing.
4) Where able to easily identify the steps and the order of importance?
Yes.
5) Where you able to understand the instructions clearly and didn’t have to reread a part to understand it. If so which part or parts?
The following could use some revision.
-Ingredients 6 “Shimp: small cooked devained tails off 7 oz.”
-Comments “recommended are Creole and Cheyenne pepper and
can be added during or after cooking”
6) Were the pictures helpful, clear, and give good representation of what the instructions were doing?
I think your pictures are definitely your strongest suit. They are very clear and give good details about the process.
7) Do you think someone who is inexperienced will have trouble? Or someone who is experience feel like their intelligence is offended?
No
Yes. Although I do not think it is as necessary to warn the experienced user not to use ingredients that they are allergic to. This comment could be smaller and out of the way.
9) If you have any suggestions of improvements of changes that will help the user please comment.
Definitely revise the statements from question 5 and think about playing with the layout of each. I think having the words all in one straight column as in the experienced instructions would be more helpful in the novice set. Overall, very clear and easy to follow instructions though, just in need of tweaking.
Shane
Mmm...
I'm going to make some too when I get back.
Comments and Suggestions
The following are the answers to your attached survey:
1. Overall, I think both of your instructions sets appear to be astatically pleasing. Both have good content and strong format. In addition, your directions offer helpful pictures and graphics. I like how you used a quarter to relate in size for cutting procedures and the safety note provided. It might be in your best interest to be more specific in the ingredients section of your novice instruction set. As little as inserting close up pictures of the ingredients and prepared food would help a lot. Inexperienced cooks (including me) sometime have trouble with this section and need all the help we can get. I don’t know much about rice cookers, but I assume there are different presets. You might want to specify the condition the rice cooker should be set at. I also liked your transition from novice to experienced audience. I think the experienced instruction set is adequately written and efficient in space and content.
2. I have had something similar to jambalaya. This was a little bit different, but I did enjoy it very much.
3. I found that in my case, the novice instruction set was most effective. I am not an experienced cook on any level. But I found it easy to follow and simple to make. After following the novice instruction set, I looked over the experienced instruction set and found it to be properly successful.
4. Your format helped a large amount in relation to order of importance. In that respect, the directions were easy to follow.
5. The grammar you chose is very easy to follow and had no trouble reading the steps.
6. I liked the pictures you used. I would suggest using closer pictures for the novice readers to make it clearer.
7. On behalf of inexperienced cooks, I think we will have no trouble following your instructions. And after making it once, I think the experienced instruction set is effective.
8. “Quarter used for size reference only” was a nice touch. Something you might want to consider in relation to safety might be using the knife. A small note explaining the potential dangers would do the trick.