Addressed:

1
Search UI Usability Test

• Addressed
• Search messaging
• Type-ahead function
• Category display
• 9 participants
• Varying degrees of experience

2
Search Messaging

• 5 out of 9 users missed the text version of the
  messaging (yellow type on gray bar)
• 2 out of 9 users missed the pop-up message
• All users preferred the pop-up message

Text
Pop-Up
3
Search Messaging

• Notes
• Two participants thought yellow text message was
  an error
• Some participants questioned functionality of the
  pop-up, thought they had to click on the text to
  view results
• Recommendations
• Because so many users missed the Text based UI
  and it's potential for misinterpretation,
  recommend skipping this style
• Increase visibility of pop-up
• Increase it's contrast with background
• Suggest heavier border, different color
• Avoid using blue font for highlighting text
• That color has potential to be misinterpreted as
  link text
• If links are used in pop-up, use an underline
  style
• Make any action required of the user obvious to
  the user

4
Search Type-Ahead

• 8 out of 9 users like the concept
• 5 out of those 8 users preferred the lighter
  version

5
Search Type-Ahead

• Notes
• Overwhelming majority of users like the concept
• The comments that accompanied the preference for
  the light version, were that it was easier to see
  and read
• Recommendation
• Use the light version (white background)
• Increase legibility of suggested terms
• Use a darker color font
• Implement a hover style with this feature
• Underline or a background fill...
• Provide an "off/on" or "hide/view" functionality
• Accommodate those who do not want to see the
  feature.

6
Search Category Results V.1

• 6 out of 9 users missed the see-all link
• 2 of those 6 users could not navigate to locate
  their product

7
Search Category Results V.2

• All users noticed the see-all links
• 8 of 9 users noticed and appreciated the
  department links at the bottom of the display
• All users preferred V2

8
Search Category Results

• Notes
• Many participants missed the see all link in
  V.1
• When asked how they would view additional shoes,
  would search again
• Overall preference for V.2 with the more
  prominent see all links
• Most participants preferred seeing both
• Counts associated with links
• Listing of other departments at bottom
• Varying comments on size of colored bar
• Some preferred larger (V1)
• Some preferred smaller (V2)
• Varying comments on color usage
• Some preferred softer colors (V1)
• Some preferred deeper colors (V2)
• Some simply expressed dislike with color choices

9
Search Category Results

• Recommendations
• Increase the visibility of department names and
  see all links
• Follow V.2
• Consider keeping the redundant see all link
  (V.2)
• 2 users used them
• Include department links at bottom of page (V.2)
• Display the number of results along with the see
  all links
• Since large qty of results could frighten
  shoppers away, suggest avoid displaying counts
  above a predetermined value ex "500 results"
• Use color scheme that provides good contrast for
  white letters
• Use bar height between V.1 and V.2
• One Concern and limiting factor in this UI
• How accurate will the top 3 results in any
  category match the users expectations?
• Possibly implement a scrollable product display?