4th Medium Usability Portfolio

We have applied the various tools and practices in our Usability Practioner's toolkit to help the following clients achieve user centered designed web sites. Those services included:

• Formal Usability Lab Testing
• Usability Expert Reviews
• E-commerce Analysis
• Search Engine Optimization
• Persona Development

Usability Consulting - Private Sector

Husky Injection Moulding

Key success factors derived from user centered analysis was to allow bottle and closure manufacturers and their suppliers to download engineering specifications from an industry trade group via the web, therefore reducing costs and simplifying communication amongst companies. 4th Medium then took the analysis and transformed it into a web site that became the preferred international resource for sourcing finishes.

Royal LePage

Information Architecture, Web Site Graphic Design and Search engine optimization work was performed by 4th medium. For the time period in which 4th medium consulting services were used, this broker's web site obtained consistent top twenty rankings in major search engines over a three year period.

Microbix Biosystems Inc.

4th Medium performed web development and maintenance, site information architecture, graphics, and search engine positioning work to ensure high rankings in major search engines.

Glaxo Wellcome

Web Consulting and web development for Glaxo's bilingual Human Resources Intranet site.

Ontario Soft Drink Association

4th Medium developed the online marketing, site architecture and programming of a joint online and offline marketing campaign geared to the Toronto, Ontario teen demographic in order to increase their awareness of the importance of recycling.

E-commerce

A complete e-commerce site was developed for use by a Brampton, Ontario Coffee Distributor, wishing to expand his off-line sales through online Web sales. Along with the site graphics and navigation design and shopping cart, 4th Medium suggested online marketing initiatives to drive traffic to the online store.

Federal Express

4th Medium participated in the development of user task scenarios to be performed by usability test participants on both FedEx and its major competitor's website. 4th Medium then screened potential usability test participants, facilitated qualitiative usability testing and prepared usability analysis results. Usability recommendations were made to improve the Federal Express corporate website.

Abbott Laboratories

The principal of 4th Medium has worked with Abbott Laboratories on three of their corporate website modules and developed functional analysis specifications and validation routines to ensure their log-in procedures and forms were user friendly.

S.C. Johnson Canada

The principal of 4th Medium performed in-depth usability evaluations, using a combination of heuristic rules, and performance of goal oriented tasks for SC Johnson Canada's bug-free living website, developed by marchFIRST Consulting Canada.

3M/marchFIRST Consulting

The principal of 4th Medium used her web strategy and development experience in 3M's joint project with marchFIRST to develop a VOIP Enterprise turnkey, multimedia call center software solution valued at $180 million in near-term revenues. Solution integrated LAN, Ethernet switching and routing platforms.

Carlson-Wagonlit Travel

The principal performed two heuristics reviews and usability testing of this corporate travel site for the E Procurement Unit of a major Canadian Bank, providing two reports on how the e-application chould be improved to reduce transaction costs to the Bank and increase use of the online travel booking process, thereby reducing call centre volumes.

Non Profit Sector

North York Canadiens Minor Hockey League

User-Centered Analysis played a key role in the web design for the North York Canadiens Minor Hockey League. The major user groups and the key motivating factors that would motivate people to use the site steered the design of the navigation categories and content. The Result? A Web site addressing the needs of the players, parents and family, with categories devoted to "rink rats", fund raising and the social aspects that make moms and dads sit in freezing hockey arenas at 6.00 a.m.

Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC)

A careful analysis of the old APEC web site design determined that the site's information architecture needed to be reworked, with the goal of the site clearly identified on the opening page.

Toronto Interacts - Toronto chapter of the UPA

4th Medium's heavy involvement in Usability included participation in the Executive of the Toronto Canada chapter of the Usability Professionals Association from 2001to 2005 and web site design for the initial website known as TUPA. The Toronto Usability Professionals Association website is now known as Toronto Interacts.