compassdesigns usability test CompassDesigns.net is a very popular Joomla blog, with great content and resources. I had seen the site before but hadn't used it very much, so my first impressions were pretty accurate. The design of the site is beautiful and clean, which is expected from Barrie North, who is also a partner at JoomlaShack.com, the leading template providers for Joomla.

Barrie has asked me to perform two tasks.

Tasks:

Receive a free template.
Register and post a comment.

Watch the usability test video:

Video summary and suggestions:

Because the site is not a ".com," it would be a good idea to show the ".net" at the end of the name. That would make it easier for me to return later.

Downloading a template

Finding the download area is easy.
Asterisks should be on the left, not on the right, and should be red if possible
Submit button should also be on the right.
After I registered, I was shown the registration page for a second time.
On activating my account, I was asked to log in but the site doesn't show me the login form nor is there a link to the form. It would be a good idea to place the login area on the activation page.
After logging in, the site asks me "Register or login for free downloads," two actions already completed.
The links under the login forms look like regular text; maybe they should be blue or underlined.
When I am ready to download the template, there is no link to a demo so that I can see what I'm receiving.

Posting on the blog

The blog itself is hard to find. It might be a good idea to add a menu item that links to it directly.
The modules on the top show on every page of the blog, which can be confusing.
The comment box is hard to find. It should be open by default.