The Enzyme Portal: a case study in applying user-centred design methods in bioinformatics

Area of Science:

• Bioinformatics
• Human-Computer Interaction
• Software Engineering

Background:

• User-centred design (UCD) principles are crucial for creating effective software, yet practical guidance for bioinformatics is scarce.
• The Enzyme Portal, a bioinformatics resource, was developed to integrate enzyme data from public repositories.
• Existing bioinformatics tools often lack user-centric development, leading to usability challenges.

Discussion:

• This study presents a comprehensive, multi-stage UCD process applied to the development of the Enzyme Portal.
• Techniques such as persona development, interviews, card sorting, user workflows, and usability testing were employed.
• The integration of UCD methodologies aimed to ensure the bioinformatics resource is both useful and easy to use.

Key Insights:

• Applying UCD to bioinformatics software development leads to more effective decision-making and enhanced team communication.
• The Enzyme Portal's development demonstrated the practical benefits of UCD in creating a user-focused bioinformatics service.
• UCD implementation resulted in a service that better aligns with the target audience's needs and requirements.

Outlook:

• This case study serves as a practical guide, encouraging the adoption of UCD approaches in bioinformatics software design.
• Further application of UCD in bioinformatics is expected to improve the usability and impact of scientific resources.
• The described UCD process can be adapted for developing other complex bioinformatics tools and platforms.