MSB Design

MSB Design conducted usability testing for Williams Sonoma, Inc., exposing fundamental issues with global navigation, nomenclature and visual presentation. By observing and interviewing numerous users in multiple sessions, we were able to learn how users perceive the Williams Sonoma family of e-commerce sites. After analyzing and quantifying the feedback, we made practical recommendations for improvement. Tests included:

MSB Design facilitated the testing by:
• Meeting with Williams Sonoma usability team to discuss test design and focus
• Writing test scripts
• Moderating usability tests
• Analyzing and quantifying test data
• Writing test reports summarizing findings for business teams

MSB Design facilitated a significant shift in business for Air Brokers International, Inc. by focusing on their internet communications. Moving from newspaper advertising as the principle marketing channel, to an enhanced web presence combined with an online marketing campaign inspired a 70-80% increase in traffic. MSB Design facilitated this increase through:

• Design and development of web site including:
• Fare request mechanism for funneling leads to agents
• Creation of an interactive fare building tool
• Preview of sample airfares and routings
• Opt-in email address collection for newsletter distribution
• Design and implementation of online marketing campaign emphasizing
• Search engine advertising and listing placement
• ROI monitoring and expenditure refinement over time
• Development of content management tool to update airfares

MSB Design brought Alternative Mortgage Sources' web site up to date with their brand through redesigning the look and feel of the site; giving it a new appearance more reflective of the organization's identity and style and making access to the tools more user centric. After asking us to comment on their site, we described the issues and possible remedies in a heuristic evaluation. We were then enlisted to redesign the site in which we accomplished:

• Identification of two primary user types and their relevant paths
• Several opportunities to select path beginning at home page
• Easy access to relevant tools once path is chosen
• Easy access to features other than tools without selecting a path
• Addition of several features:
• Access to real time bond market rates
• Testimonials from Alternative Mortgage Sources clients with links to client sites
• Order form for ordering Alternative Mortgage Sources Floaty Pens

Their clients now sense they are in the right place when they land on the site, and they enjoy the use of the tools as well as the opportunity to get their Alternative Mortgage Sources Floaty pen without making a trip to the office.