Research Report Title:
PixelHeaven Usability Test Report

Researcher:
Michelle Wu – April 20, 2025

Name of Project:
PixelHeaven App

Summary of App:
PixelHeaven is a gaming platform designed for multiple devices. It allows users to browse best-selling games, participate in auctions, interact within community discussions, track achievements, and customize their profiles. The goal is to create a fun and engaging environment where gamers can explore, connect, and trade.

Prototype Link: https://www.figma.com/proto/RKSnJRelpiJa7JTxyS6oQQ/Michelle-Wu?node-id=107-706&p=f&t=4GujFsKEBvHU1gT2-1&scaling=scale-down&content-scaling=fixed&page-id=0%3A1&starting-point-node-id=107%3A706

Executive Summary

In this usability study, most users were able to successfully browse and favorite games, completing core tasks with relative ease. However, some issues were identified in the checkout flow and notification settings. Users expressed confusion during payment confirmation and experienced minor interaction problems with notification toggles.

As a next step, I plan to refine the payment process by adding clearer confirmation prompts, improve the interaction design of the notification settings, and enrich the game detail pages by including more user reviews, ratings, and possibly gameplay videos.

Detailed Findings

Finding 1: Missing “Forgot Password” Option in Login Flow
Three out of five participants reported that they could not find an option to recover their password on the login page, which increased their difficulty logging in and caused hesitation during the onboarding process.

Finding 2: Lack of Detailed Information on Game Pages
Four participants indicated that the game detail pages felt too limited. They suggested adding user reviews, more detailed descriptions, and gameplay videos to better inform their purchasing decisions.

Finding 3: Missing Payment Confirmation Step
Two participants were confused during the payment process. After clicking “confirm,” they were unsure if the payment had been successfully completed, suggesting that a clear confirmation screen is needed.

Finding 4: Unclear Navigation Icons
Two participants pointed out that some navigation icons were ambiguous without accompanying labels. They recommended adding small text labels below the icons, especially in the bottom navigation bar, to make the functions more immediately understandable.

Data Analysis

Quantitative Data:

• 2 out of 5 participants found the navigation bar icons difficult to understand.
• Users spent an average of 1 minute and 30 seconds completing the purchase task.
• Error rate: minor mistakes were observed in 2 tasks, mostly related to payment and navigation clarity.
• 3 participants hesitated during the checkout process, needing additional time to understand payment steps.

Qualitative Data:
One participant commented, “I don’t find it useful to have to register an account immediately upon opening the app.”
This suggests that many users would prefer to first browse content freely and only be prompted to register when absolutely necessary, to create a more frictionless first experience.

Several users also expressed positive feelings about the app’s visual style and fluid animations, noting that it enhanced their overall impression of the platform.

Design Updates

High Priority:

• Enrich game detail pages with user reviews, ratings, and gameplay videos.
• Optimize the checkout process by adding a clear payment confirmation screen.

Medium Priority:

• Add a “Forgot Password” option to the login page.
• Add explanatory labels to navigation icons to improve discoverability and reduce user confusion.

Low Priority:

• Improve the animation effects and transitions in the notification settings screen for a more polished user experience.

Appendix

Testing Method:
Five participants were observed remotely as they interacted with the Figma prototype. Their task performance, navigation behaviors, and verbal feedback were recorded to gather both qualitative and quantitative data.

Screener:
Participants were classmates from FINE 3444 and gaming enthusiasts between the ages of 18 and 35.

Task Questions:

• Find a game that interests you and mark it as a favorite.
• Browse the homepage and explore a game that is currently trending.
• Navigate through game categories and locate a title that fits your personal gaming preferences.
• After watching a game trailer, decide whether or not to favorite that game.
• Locate and review your list of favorited games.

Metrics:

• Task Completion Rate:
• 4 out of 5 participants (80%) successfully completed all assigned tasks without external help.
• Time on Task:
• Participants spent an average of 1 minute and 30 seconds completing the purchasing task. The fastest time recorded was 45 seconds; the slowest was 4 minutes and 50 seconds.
• Error Rate:
• Minor errors were observed in 2 out of 5 participants (40%), mostly related to the checkout confirmation step and navigation confusion regarding unclear icons.
• Observations of Hesitation Points:
• 3 participants hesitated during the checkout process, spending an additional 15–30 seconds trying to confirm whether their payment was successful.
• 2 participants also paused briefly when interpreting the icons in the bottom navigation bar, suggesting the need for clearer labels.