Abstract
This case study describes an evaluation of current Federal Student Aid print publications to determine how well they meet users' needs and to what extent they are readily usable by and appealing to their intended audiences. The publications were designed to inform and educate readers about the process of preparing for higher education, both academically and financially. The intended audiences were students who are considering going to college, their parents, and counselors. The evaluation followed a multi-pronged, user-based approach. Our methods included usability testing, focus groups, an online survey followed by telephone interviews, and a mock “financial aid night” at which participants could browse among available publications and indicate which appeared to be of most interest to them. This paper will discuss these user-based activities, some of the insights that were derived from them, and some of the resulting design recommendations that will influence future versions of these print publications.
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