Guidelines

 for  the  Instructions  Project  

You  may  choose  to  use  a  variety  of  media  to  construct  your  instructions  set.    I  am  open  
to  using  wikis,  gDocs,  video,  or  other  options  you  may  come  up  with.  The  only  media  
restriction  is  that  the  set  cannot  be  produced  as  an  ordinary  8.5  x  11  or  11  x  14  sheet  of  
paper,  bound  or  unbound.  
 
Doc  Specs:  
• Instructions  should  have  a  complete  parts  list,  unless  you  can  make  an  extremely  
compelling  argument  for  not  having  one.  
• Try  to  anticipate  problem  spots  where  a  user  might  encounter  difficulty  in  
assembling  the  product.  
• Instructions  must  have  at  least  ten  steps,  presented  either  in  a  modular  or  
sequential  fashion.  
• Your  basic  instructions  cannot  show  a  full  view  of  the  finished  item,  though  it  is  
permissible  and  suggested  that  the  modular  parts  are  shown  in  at  least  a  rough  
fashion.  
• Photographs  or  sketches  must  be  digitized  so  that  they  can  be  included  in  the  
digital  document.  If  you  do  not  have  access  to  a  scanner,  get  the  drawings  to  me  
and  I  will  scan  them  and  e-­‐mail  them  to  you.  
• Include  a  sketch  or  photograph  of  the  final  item  in  the  final  product.  
 

Usability  Specs:  
• Devise  a  method  for  testing  your  instructions,  such  as  read-­‐and-­‐locate  tests  or  
timed  tests  on  the  assembly.  
• A  usability  test  result  report  will  be  part  of  the  final  project.  You  must  anticipate  
what  potential  problems  will  be  before  the  product  is  tested  and  list  them  in  
your  report.  
• The  final  project  will  include  not  only  your  anticipated  problems,  but  empirical  
data  from  a  real  usability  test  which  lists  modifications  made  to  the  instructions  
to  address  these  issues.  
• Be  sure  to  include  data  on  the  amount  of  time  spent  reading  the  instructions  
versus  assembly  time.  Do  users  use  your  instructions?  Do  they  have  to  refer  to  
them  constantly  during  the  process,  or  do  they  simply  read  and  then  execute  
them?  
• Make  sure  that  the  instructions  allow  for  error.  How  can  a  user  troubleshoot  the  
results  if  their  results  do  not  match  the  instructions?  
Instructions  Content  Requirements  
 
Your  instructions  set  should  contain  the  following  elements,  which  may  vary  according  
to  the  media  you  choose  to  use.  If  need  be,  you  and  I  will  work  together  to  adjust  our  
shared  terminology  and  expectations  accordingly.  (Do  not  choose  to  eliminate  an  aspect  
without  consulting  with  me,  because  it  is  important  that  we  both  be  on  the  same  page.)  
 
Home  page  or  Cover  page  
This  should  focus  on  introducing  your  product  (perhaps  including  a  photograph  or  
drawing  of  the  completed  object)  and  instructions  
 
Sidebar  /  Table  of  Contents  
 
Body  Text  
This  is  where  the  instructions  go.    It  should  include  text  that  is  reinforced  with  
appropriate  images,  either  still  or  moving.  
 
A  Production  Narrative  Page  or  Memo  
This  memo  summarizes  the  design  objectives  and  process  involved  in  creating  your  
instructions.        
 
A  Usability  Report  
This  document  provides  the  description  and  results  of  your  usability  testing.  Discuss  the  
“focus  group”  negotiation  of  particular  features  of  the  instructions  before  they  were  
designed.  How  well  did  your  intuition  match  up  with  the  results  of  your  first  usability  
test?  Provide  your  data,  and  a  summary  of  that  data.  What  changes  did  you  make  as  a  
result  of  the  first  test?  How  did  the  second  test  go?  Did  it  solve  the  problems  you  tried  
to  address?      You  will  also  provide  the  raw  data  you  gathered  during  the  usability  test  
process.  
 
If  you  have  questions,  don’t  hesitate  to  ask.    
 
Instructions  Grading  Rubric  
 
 
1. Has  a  clear  design  objective,  with  supporting  background  from  the  initial  design  
“focus  group”:  20  
2. Has  a  clear  introductory  page:  20  
3. Presents  the  final  instructions  in  an  attractively  designed  total  package:  40  
4. Presents  a  “seamless”  document  with  matching  layout/design  for  each  relevant  
section:  20  
5. Includes  effectively  designed  images  appropriate  to  the  focus  of  the  instructions:  
20  
6. Provides  a  detailed  narrative  of  the  design  process  in  the  design  memo:  20  
7. Provides  both  summary  description  of  the  testing  and  revision  procedure  and  
detailed  evidence  of  the  changes  which  were  applied:  20  
8. Appropriate  section  divisions  as  noted  on  sidebar:    10  
9. Appropriate  section  headings  /  information  chunking:  10  
10.  Freedom  from  error:  20  
 
Total  Points  Available:  200  
 
Required  sections:  
 
Home  page  with  Intro  to  Product  
Final  Instructions  
Sidebar  (Table  of  Contents)    
Design  Memo  
Testing  summary  memo  and  testing  data  
Final  reflective  memos  from  each  group  participant