PRN1997 - Design, imagery and illustration, UX and user testing of the Discover Uni website to support prospective higher education students

Description

Summary of work Design, imagery and illustration, user research and testing services for the Discover Uni website. To enhance the information architecture, presentation and flow of content, enhance access and user-journeys to enable a better user-experience. Strengthen the branding, highlight tools and core features, and support users to understand and use the information and data to inform their course choice decisions. Where the supplied staff will work No specific location (for example they can work remotely) Who the organisation using the products or services is Office for Students Why the work is being done The Office for Students manages the Discover Uni website on behalf of the four UK higher education funding and regulatory bodies. The website is currently being updated to a new design. We are seeking to learn about the users experience of the website to enhance the existing information architecture, content and embed the new design and functionality. This will be in response to user feedback which the supplier will complete. We aim to strengthen the branding through design and communicate the core features of the website more clearly to users. We also aim to emphasise and build on the vision for Discover Uni, being a trusted and impartial source of information which provides IAG and signposts to other trusted sources to support users in their research and decision making journey. The business problem We need to: 1. Make it easier for users to identify and make use of the data, information, advice and guidance on the website to support informed decision making. 2. Strengthen the visual component of the website, adding imagery and/or illustration which is relatable to key audiences. 3. Continue user testing on elements to enhance the content, information, advice and guidance for key audiences (in content pages and the resource hub). 4. Continue user testing of the dataset and to continuously improve the way the data is presented for key audiences. 5. Communication of core features to raise awareness and promote the website to core audiences. The people who will use the product or service User type: Potential applicants to higher education courses in the UK Definition: Potential applicants to higher education courses in the UK need to be able to easily navigate the website to engage with the content, view and understand course data, compare courses and view provider information. This will support prospective students to make informed decisions about their futures. Potential applicants need to be able to access content which can help them to see all of the options available to them and access trusted sources of information which Discover Uni signposts to so students are supported at every stage of their journey. User type: Teachers / advisers Definition: Teachers/advisers need the information, advice and data insight that is useful for them and for students researching their HE choices. User type: OfS Definition: OfS needs to be confident that the information and data insight prospective students access on the Discover Uni website is accessible, meaningful and provides good user journeys/experience. Any pre-market engagement done The current suppliers include a hosting and web development agency and a UX and user testing organisation. The current UX and user testing organisation support the Discover Uni team to prioritise and define the learning objectives based on the scope of the work planned for Discover Uni. The learning objectives focus on areas of the website to refine and enhance the overall user experience of the website and to support prospective students to find the information and the data to help them to make informed decisions about their futures. The UX and user testing organisation have completed a wide range of user testing which has informed some design enhancements to the website (the updated course page, course comparison page and provider page) and designed a new tool to support a teacher and adviser audience (a resource hub). Future work will reflect on the user testing completed to date, and consider this within the next phases of work. Work done so far User-centred research and testing has informed the Discover Uni website which has recently been updated to include new design and page functionality. Findings from previous user research, feedback and guidance on parameters for the design work will be provided, with design assets for reference and as a potential starting point for testing and design work. Future design work will need to be provided in suitable formats for the website developers. Which phase the project is in Beta Existing team The OfS Discover Uni team will provide product ownership, a data analyst, research and content management support. The supplier will engage with the team to set the learning goals for each phase of work to meet the overall requirements of the website. The Discover Uni team will engage in the work throughout, to understand the outcomes of the user testing and provide feedback and decision making for design work. The website development is outsourced and liaison with the hosting and development supplier will be required to make updates to the website which reflect user feedback. The supplier will also be required to communicate with the internal digital publishing team to share any design assets that have been created to ensure there is a consistent design used throughout. Address where the work will be done No specific location, supplier can work remotely. Office for Students is based at Westward House, Lime Kiln Close, Stoke Gifford, Bristol BS34 8SR Working arrangements The supplier is expected to work closely with the OfS team, conduct user research and testing (potentially across UK) or online. There is no separate budget for travel costs or expenses so this should be included in the overall project costs. The expectation is that the supplier will source and recruit participants for the user testing and ensure that data protection policies are adhered to. The supplier will work collaboratively with the Discover Uni team to establish the brief and identify objectives of each project. The supplier will complete user testing, ensuring that the appropriate methods are used to obtain the required information (e.g. large scale card sort exercise, one to one interviews, focus groups etc). Once feedback has been gathered and design work has been completed, the supplier is expected to present the updated design work to web developers, supporting them to implement the designs. A report to summarise the user testing research is required. Security and vetting requirements No security clearance needed Latest start date 4 March 2024 Expected contract length Contract length: 2 years 0 months 0 days Optional extension: 1 years 0 months 0 days Budget Indicative maximum: £120000 Indicative minimum: The contract value is not specified by the buyer Further information: £40k to £60k inclusive of VAT per annum. The budget has been set for two years, so the budget for the extension period, if taken up, is to be confirmed. Contracted out service or supply of resource? Contracted out service: the off-payroll rules do not apply Terms and acronyms Term or acronym: HE Definition: Higher Education Term or acronym: OfS Definition: Office for Students Term or acronym: IAG Definition: Information, advice and guidance Term or acronym: UX Definition: User experience Questions and Clarifications 1. Please could we clarify if the budget for this is £120,000 (including VAT) for 2 years and £40k to £60k per year? We realise it says this in the documentation but we just wanted to check it That is correct. We have a confirmed budget for two years at a maximum of £60k per year, so a total budget of a maximum £120k. The extension period does not currently have a confirmed budget. Last Updated : <strong>02/11/2023</strong> 2. Will the Office for Students cover the costs of incentives and recruitment (outside of the main budget)? Recruitment incentives are expected to be covered from within the set budget. Last Updated : <strong>02/11/2023</strong> 3. How much face to face testing across the UK is expected? Testing methods for individual projects will be agreed with the Discover Uni team. User testing in person may be required for an individual project if necessary, however user testing online is typically the method used. Last Updated : <strong>02/11/2023</strong> 4. Would these travel / accommodation expenses be picked up by the office for students (outside of the main budget)? Travel and accommodation expenses are expected to be covered from within the set budget. Last Updated : <strong>02/11/2023</strong> 5. What are your expectations on volumes of users to be tested with in each round? The number of users will be decided for each project to ensure that we have the level of feedback and insight required. The budget and the chosen method of testing will impact on the number of users we are able to complete user testing with. For online or in person user testing, we usually include 8-15 participants per project. We have previously used unmoderated online testing where numbers are higher. Last Updated : <strong>02/11/2023</strong> 6. Will there be a plan / schedule of work so we will know when research and design will take place? The schedule will be agreed between the supplier and the Disover Uni team. Currently there is flexibility as to when the work is required. Last Updated : <strong>02/11/2023</strong> 7. How many rounds of user testing are you expecting? Typically there have been three sprints within a one year period. Last Updated : <strong>02/11/2023</strong>