As part of a Human Factors Engineering project (Technion), I conducted a usability evaluation and UX-focused optimization of the Qualtrics platform.The project did not aim to redesign the UI visually, but to improve usability, efficiency, and cognitive alignment through human-factors–driven analysis and UX principles.
Scope
The evaluation focused on two core user actions:
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Home – creating a new survey/project
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Survey Creation & Editing – writing, editing, and managing survey questions
Project Brief
Goals
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Reduce unnecessary steps, task switching, and cognitive load
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Identify usability and cognitive friction points
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Understand task structure and users’ mental models
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Improve efficiency and clarity without changing the visual language
Methodology
Hierarchical Task Analysis (HTA) of survey creation and items editing
Usability evaluation of the existing interface
UX specifications focused on interaction, flow, and cognitive efficiency
Low-fidelity prototype (Figma) illustrating UX improvements (not a visual redesign)
Comparative usability testing of:
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Original interface
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Optimized prototype
Metrics
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During - - Response time & errors.
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Post - - Satisfaction & Eefficiency.
UX-Driven Improvements
Reduced the number of actions and steps required to create a new survey (See Gallery Image A)
Users can complete the task faster with less friction
Reducing the number of steps from four to three)
Improving hierarchy and emphasis of existing actions (e.g., buttons) → Directs user attention to primary actions, supporting smoother navigation.
Streamlining task flows and minimizing unnecessary steps → Increases efficiency and supports intuitive task completion.
Reducing the number of controls and decision points → Minimizes cognitive load and simplifies decision-making.
Refining terminology to better match users’ mental models → Enhances understandability and reduces errors caused by misinterpretation.
Minor typography adjustments strictly to support readability and cognitive processing → Facilitates quick scanning and reduces mental effort.
Example: Improving hierarchy and emphasis of existing actions
The survey creation flow was simplified by:
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Improving efficiency
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Lowering cognitive load
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Better supporting users’ task-focused workflows
Evaluation | Results | Outcomes
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Reduced task completion time, particularly in the survey creation flow.
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Higher user satisfaction scores in the optimized prototype
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Fewer user errors compared to the original interface
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Improved task efficiency and perceived ease of use
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Shorter task completion times in the prototype condition
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The project demonstrated that UX and human-factors–driven changes—without visual redesign—can significantly improve usability, efficiency, and cognitive load.
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Small, targeted interaction and flow adjustments led to measurable improvements in performance and user experience.
*This project was conducted in collaboration with Lior Ron
Project Gallery
