Government of India 
introduction
This website-based platform is designed to enable countries to exchange information on their respective food standards and regulations with other nations and stakeholders. Its primary objectives include fostering international trade, advancing food safety and quality standards, and fostering transparency and alignment of food regulations on a global scale. The Food Safety and Standards Authority of India (FSSAI), the foremost food regulatory body in India, serves as the hosting entity for the FSRP.
Objective of the application
The primary goal of this initiative is to offer a comprehensive information hub, serving as a one-stop source for details on food standards and regulations from diverse countries and regions. This centralized platform aims to streamline access to crucial information, facilitating a more efficient and informed understanding of global food standards. It emphasizes promoting food safety and quality by disseminating best practices. Transparency and harmonization efforts involve encouraging dialogue among stakeholders. Additionally, the initiative supports developing countries through capacity building and technical assistance, aiming to enhance their adherence to international food standards.
Target Audience
The users of this website include government officials and regulators responsible for food standards and regulations from different countries. Additionally, stakeholders in the food industry, such as producers, manufacturers, and exporters, may utilize the platform to stay informed about global standards. Researchers and policymakers seeking comprehensive information on international food regulations, as well as individuals involved in capacity building and technical assistance programs, would also be key users of this website.
The Challenge
The challenge is to enhance the user experience of the website by addressing potential challenges users might face. These challenges encompass streamlining the search process, increasing search flexibility, improving feedback and information provision, ensuring data accuracy and consistency, optimizing mobile responsiveness, enhancing accessibility, and refining the intuitiveness of the user interface.
Usability Study Findings
The usability study revealed several critical issues across various pages of the website, affecting user experience and overall functionality. Here is a summary of the insights gathered-
HomepageThe usability study exposed significant challenges on the homepage, impacting user familiarity and experience. Users struggled with inconsistent positioning of the emblem, leading to a lack of visual harmony. Additionally, the low contrast in the header background hindered readability, and disproportionate stretching of images affected visual aesthetics. The overwhelming array of colors on the homepage contributed to a visually inconsistent experience. The absence of white space and margins resulted in a crowded layout, diminishing visual organization. Non-standard footer design and non-functional links further impeded user navigation. The homepage failed to effectively communicate the website's purpose, and social media links overlapped with the main content, potentially causing user frustration. In the header, buttons lacked clear visual differentiation, adding to user confusion.
About PageThe About page presented challenges with content scrolling, as the infinite marquee effect potentially hindered readability. Issues with the background image, including inadequate fading and disproportionate stretching, impacted visual contrast and balance. The lack of a concise heading and highlighting of the active page in the navbar further complicated user navigation.
Countries on the PlatformThe Countries page suffered from inaccuracies in data display, causing potential user confusion and questioning the credibility of information. Issues with background image fading and stretching persisted from the About page. Incorrect sorting of countries on the page impacted consistency, and the absence of search or filter options posed usability problems. The lack of clarity in identifying dropdown functionality and inconsistent clickability of dropdown items further challenged user interaction.
Search PageThe Search page introduced potential misinterpretation of entry fields due to their side-by-side placement. Inconsistent validation of the search form buttons created confusion, as the "Search" and "Reset" buttons remained active even without user input search criteria.
Log In and RegistrationThe Login and Registration processes faced issues with button animation inconsistencies and disruptive hover effects, impacting visual stability and readability. Inconsistent terminology across the page added to user confusion, along with unpredictable back button functionality. The absence of a clear visual treatment for switching between login types created challenges in user understanding. The Registration page failed to provide visibility or mention Executive Registration. Users faced uncertainty after completing the regulatory registration form, as there were no clear instructions or guidance. Furthermore, communication after registration via email lacked clarity and may have caused users to overlook important information. The login process presented various inconsistencies, redirecting users and introducing confusion.
Contact PageThe Contact page suffered from an oversized map, affecting visual hierarchy, and lacked a message form for direct user interaction. Crucial contact information was positioned below the map, potentially leading to user frustration and hindering effective communication.
DashboardThe dashboard presented issues with inconsistent button labels, lack of hide options for expanded information, and misleading clickable behavior, causing confusion for users. The overall visual design lacked appeal and information density, falling short of expected standards. Lack of entry points to important sections on the dashboard hindered user accessibility.
DocumentsThe upload document form faced issues with text box misalignment, impacting visual consistency. The lack of tag recommendations in the upload document form introduced potential inaccuracies in document categorization. Users received no immediate feedback or guidance after uploading a document.
ExecutivesIssues persisted in the executives section, including the persistence of gratification messages, lack of immediate display after adding/removing executives, and absence of direct access to the executive list from the navigation panel. The unconventional use of tabs for actions further complicated user understanding.
Overall/MiscellaneousInternal pages displayed inconsistencies in footer design, either lacking a footer or featuring non-standard designs. The presence of non-functional buttons across the website led to user frustration and undermined trust. The absence of an accessible search field in the navigation impacted user convenience. Lack of dropdowns for login types in the header added to user confusion. The website lacked dashboard access for logged-in users from internal pages, disrupting the user journey. The website design failed to visually distinguish between logged-in users and new visitors. Additionally, the continued visibility of "Login" and "Register" buttons in the header navbar post-login caused user confusion and impacted contextual awareness.
Therefore, the usability study highlighted several pain points across user navigation, visual consistency, and communication. Users exhibited potential frustration and confusion, emphasizing the need for iterative design improvements. Consistency, clarity, and user-centric design enhancements are crucial for a positive and efficient user experience on the website.
Synthesizing Phase
With the insights gathered during the research phase, we have gained valuable understanding of the users' interactions and challenges while using the website of FSSAI- Food Safety and Standards Authority of India, Government of India. Building on this knowledge, we have now entered the Defining phase, where our aim is to deepen our comprehension and transform the research findings into practical design solutions. To maintain a user-centric approach, we have created personas that embody essential user archetypes-
User Personas Persona 1-Regulatory Official - Maria RodriguezMaria Rodriguez is a seasoned government official from Mexico, responsible for overseeing food standards and regulations in her region.
Goals-Her primary goal is to stay updated on international food standards to ensure that the regulations in her country align with global best practices. Maria seeks a user-friendly platform that allows her to efficiently access comprehensive information on food standards, facilitating informed decision-making for regulatory adjustments and improvements.
ChallengesMaria faces the challenge of navigating through vast amounts of data to find specific information relevant to Mexican food regulations. The search process needs to be streamlined to save time and effort. Additionally, she often requires the ability to customize searches based on specific criteria, which the platform currently lacks. Maria also faces challenges in providing feedback on the platform and accessing accurate and consistent data. Improving the feedback mechanism and ensuring data reliability are crucial for her successful use of the platform.
Persona 2- Food Industry Stakeholder - Ahmed MalikAhmed Malik, based in Egypt, is a food industry professional involved in the export of local food products.
Goals-His main goal is to stay informed about global food standards to ensure compliance and streamline export processes. Ahmed requires a platform that not only provides information but also offers insights into best practices and potential changes in international regulations. He aims to use this information to enhance the quality and safety standards of his products, meeting the requirements of different markets.
ChallengesAhmed encounters challenges related to the mobile responsiveness and accessibility of the platform. As a frequent traveler and a user on the go, he needs the website to be optimized for mobile devices. Ensuring the platform's accessibility is crucial for him, as it directly impacts his ability to stay updated while traveling. Additionally, refining the intuitiveness of the user interface is essential for Ahmed to easily navigate through the platform and extract relevant information for the benefit of his business.
Mapping User Journeys and Extracting InsightsWe have chosen to focus on Maria Rodriguez, a government official from Mexico responsible for overseeing food standards and regulations in her region. Let's dive into Maria's user journey, gaining insights into her actions, emotions, and pain points during this process.
Mapping the journey to a “user story”Maria Rodriguez, a government official from Mexico, faced challenges in navigating the platform due to its vast information. Customization in search capabilities was lacking, impacting her ability to efficiently locate specific information for Mexican food regulations. Feedback provision and ensuring data accuracy were additional pain points.
Maria's User Story"As a regulatory official, I need an intuitive platform with streamlined navigation and customizable search options to efficiently access and apply international food standards for Mexican regulations. Providing feedback and ensuring data accuracy are critical for informed decision-making."
Framing challenges and hypothesis Problem StatementMaria Rodriguez, tasked with overseeing food standards in Mexico, encounters challenges in navigating and customizing searches on the platform. The absence of user-friendly features impedes her efficiency in applying international food standards to Mexican regulations.
Hypothesis StatementIf we enhance the platform's navigation and introduce customizable search options, Maria's experience will improve, enabling more efficient application of international food standards to Mexican regulations. This will lead to increased user satisfaction and effectiveness in regulatory decision-making.
In the subsequent phases, we will leverage these insights and hypotheses to design and implement user-centric solutions, ensuring Maria has a seamless experience in accessing and applying international food standards for Mexican regulations.
