Usability Services

Usability, accessibility and UCD services to optimise your site's effectiveness.

WebAbacus Software

Powerful web analytics software which tells you how your users are behaving.

Experience Management

Measure, analyse and enhance the complete user experience delivered by your site.

14 Bonhill Street
London EC2A 4BX

Tel: +44 (0)8450 546 500

info@foviance.com

Map & Directions

Return to home page

Foviance and Applied Works appointed to deliver global user experience for AstraZeneca

Wednesday 8th August 2007

Foviance, the expert in online experience management, and Applied Works, a graphic design consultancy, have been appointed to carry out a User Centred Design (UCD) project for international pharmaceutical company, AstraZeneca.

The project is part of AstraZeneca's continuous website improvement, which has already been recognised for its effectiveness by The FT Bowen Craggs corporate websites index, placing AstraZeneca as the top pharmaceutical organisation, and fifth overall. The project will involve a global review of all corporate and product branded websites, which will then be used to prepare a comprehensive set of website guidelines to inform the design of all new AstraZeneca websites worldwide.

Foviance believes strongly that website usability should not compromise design, and so will work closely in partnership with Applied Works, AstraZeneca’s creative agency and brand guardians, to design and certify the recommended layouts. This will ensure that the final specifications adhere to both usability and creative guidelines.

The research process will include evaluation of prototype websites, which will be tested using participants drawn from the corporate, healthcare professional and patient audiences that frequent AstraZeneca's sites. This sample audience will then be assessed using eye-tracking tests, establishing their ability to carry out predefined user tasks, which will provide vital real world data for the final guidelines.

Sally Shackleton, corporate communications director for AstraZeneca, comments: "AstraZeneca's reputation is driven by the experiences of our stakeholders, and it is always our goal to continually improve any point of contact. This is especially important online, where our websites act as our window to the world. We will be working with Foviance and Applied to review and improve our online customer experience, which will then be integrated into our web presence worldwide."

Paul Blunden, CEO of Foviance, adds: "AstraZeneca has put users first by investing in customer experience. It is important to strike a balance between simplifying the user’s journey, taking into consideration cultural and language issues, while still facilitating the expression of brand values and creativity. This is why working closely with AstraZeneca's creative and branding agency, Applied Works, was so important."