My instructions are for brewing a California IPA (India Pale Ale, a fairly bitter beer). These instructions are still incomplete due to fermentation lasting for about two weeks (should be ready this Thursday for bottling). I am trying to place as many detailed, but to the point steps in as possible for the inexperienced brewer. I have attached many visuals to aid in the process. I will also be taking quite a few more as I finish up the instructions as well as attempting to replace some blurry ones. I have attempted to truncate the instructions for the experienced brewer, and am attempting to add in extra steps that I have picked up to improve the batch. I have not added these extra steps yet, mostly due to the fact that a majority of them occur during and at the end of the fermentation process.
I have attempted to combine all three usability tests to reduce the length of the overall test.
For the document markup/surveying test, please identify any areas where you get confused, held up, or think that something should be added. This can be done in a list format or on a screenshot of the particular page if you feel necessary.
For the read and locate, please let me know how easy it is to find your way through the instruction set. Let me know if the layout improves or weakens your ability to understand the instructions. How well do the pictures match the instructions and are they easy to follow with the instructions (this is a problem I know of and am attempting to fix it).
I have added a comment section at the bottom for any extra feedback that you would like to give.
Please return the usability tests by email to jones168@purdue.edu. Thanks.
Side notes: disregard the question marks…or comment on them…they are there to remind me to define certain parts for the beginner. Also, sorry about the large file sizes and for being 2 days late 
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Beginner instructions can be found here: View homebrewing-beginner-pdf
The download link is at the top left of the box.
Usability Test Home Brewing
1. Is the layout easy to follow? Please describe any complications you see.
I though that the layout was easy enough to follow. I really didn’t see anything major that needed to be changed.
2. Bullet/Numbering system
a. How does the bullet/numbering system affect your ability to follow the
steps?
The bullets seemed a little weird to me. I think this was because they were so far away from the actual text. Maybe try to bring the text and bullets closer together.
b. Do my titles work well for each numbered step?
I thought that the titles were clear and to the point. The only thing that I would suggest would be to maybe increase the font size.
3. On page 9, when reading the steps and then reading the table, is it confusing
as to which way the time should be set, ie… was the table a good idea?
I thought that the table was fine.
4. For the cooling steps, do I need to go into more detail about how to cool the
wort?
I thought that the cooling section was fine.
5. Do the pictures aid in explaining the instructions or confuse you?
I thought that the pictures were very useful. I think that it would have been almost impossible to follow without your pictures.
6. Are you able to connect the pictures with the instructions?
Yes
7. Are you able to connect the side notes with the pictures/instructions?
I think that you need to have a set location for your captions. Maybe put all of the captions under the picture that they represent. They seemed somewhat disconnected.
8. Do my side notes fit in with the picture/step they are attached to?
I felt that the caption fit fine with their pictures, but you need to be more consistent.
9. Do my side notes add to your understanding of the instructions or hinder
them?
The notes are fine
10. Is the language used appropriate for a beginner?
I thought that the language was fine, but you might want to define some of the basic terminology that you use.
Please add any extra comments, difficulties or ideas on the Beginner
Instructions here.
The only changes I would make would be to maybe mess around with the font sizes and colors to make them easier to read. And try to be more consistent with the layout of your pictures and notes.
Your experienced instruction set seemed fine to me. It seemed like I would be able to follow either set of instructions and get the same result.
Usability Test
1. Is the layout easy to follow? Please describe any complications you see.
The layout is easy to follow, but I think it would flow better if you remained consistent with the text on the left side and the pictures on the right side. I was also a little confused as to why some of the steps on the preparation slide were off to the right instead of below the other steps.
2. Bullet/Numbering system
a. How does the bullet/numbering system affect your ability to follow the
steps?
The bullets make following the instructions a little confusing. It’s hard to tell which are actual steps and which are just side-notes. Maybe an a,b,c,d system might make this easier.
b. Do my titles work well for each numbered step?
It’s easy to distinguish between each numbered step. The numbers themselves are pretty small and seem to be separated from the text, maybe try increasing the font size.
3. On page 9, when reading the steps and then reading the table, is it confusing
as to which way the time should be set, ie… was the table a good idea?
The table works fine.
4. For the cooling steps, do I need to go into more detail about how to cool the
wort?
It made sense to me. I think this part is alright as is.
5. Do the pictures aid in explaining the instructions or confuse you?
The pictures work very well, and would have been lost without them. The captions aren’t consistent, though. Some are above the picture and some are below.
6. Are you able to connect the pictures with the instructions?
Yes.
7. Are you able to connect the side notes with the pictures/instructions?
Yes, but it might be easier if their layout was uniform throughout the instruction set.
Please answer these questions after reading the instructions.
8. Do my side notes fit in with the picture/step they are attached to?
It appears so.
9. Do my side notes add to your understanding of the instructions or hinder
them?
They were kind of hard to read, black doesn’t contrast well against green. Maybe lighten the color of the background to make the text standout more.
10. Is the language used appropriate for a beginner?
Yea it made sense.
Please add any extra comments, difficulties or ideas on the Beginner
Instructions here.
The only big changes I would make would be have more consistency in the layout, and adjust the color scheme to make the notes easier to read.
Brewing test
1. Is the layout easy to follow? Please describe any complications you see.
I liked the layout pretty well; I really liked how in the beginning you gave a list of all the things needed to complete the task that was a good checklist to follow.
2. Bullet/Numbering system
a. How does the bullet/numbering system affect your ability to follow the
steps?
It was nice how you divided the whole process into different titles and then divided it again into different numbers. I liked that everything was divided and clear to read.
b. Do my titles work well for each numbered step?
At first glance I did not see the numbers, but after I noticed them I found them very helpful, maybe make the numbers more noticeable.
3. On page 9, when reading the steps and then reading the table, is it confusing
as to which way the time should be set, ie… was the table a good idea?
The table was a great idea, it makes it very easy to know exactly what to add at exactly what time. Tables are always a nice way to make information stand out.
4. For the cooling steps, do I need to go into more detail about how to cool the
wort?
I think the cooling instructions are ok, I think maybe if you dived them from the rest of the page a little, or perhaps titled the area of the page “cooling” it would draw more attention to the section. Also if you could maybe give an approximate amount of time that it should take to cool down.
5. Do the pictures aid in explaining the instructions or confuse you?
I think the pictures are really nice, they go along with the process nicely and will help people know if what they are doing looks correct. I like that you found so many great pictures. I feel like people will prefer to look at pictures more than text anyway.
6. Are you able to connect the pictures with the instructions?
Yes, the pictures are very nice, and are in the perfect order.
7. Are you able to connect the side notes with the pictures/instructions?
Please answer these questions after reading the instructions.
Yes, like I said the pictures and text go hand in hand, I like the variety that the pictures add.
8. Do my side notes fit in with the picture/step they are attached to?
Yes pretty well, some of the pictures that go with the text are not directly beside the text but are at least on the same page.
9. Do my side notes add to your understanding of the instructions or hinder
them?
I like the side notes, but the text is pretty small, and too bold, which makes it pretty hard to read.
10. Is the language used appropriate for a beginner?
I think the only thing about the language you may want to change is perhaps add a section at the front that sort of defines some of the terms used, since many novice readers might not be able to understand some of the terms that go along with brewing.