# User Experience, Functionality and Aesthetics Evaluation in an Academic Multi-Site Web Ecosystem
## 5 Results
### Qualitative Analysis
#### 5.2.1 Who Are You and What Is Your Relationship with the Publish@Ionio Ecosystem? The introduction question served as a means for the participants to acquaint themselves with each other. Most participants briefly talked about their relationship with the ecosystem, especially the websites with which they were involved and their roles within the institution. Some briefly mentioned their first experience with the ecosystem with P1 and P6, noting the process of working with general-purpose WCMSs and P7 and focusing on the migration process of their website from such WCMSs to the ecosystem. 2.2 With Regard to Aesthetics, to What Degree Were Your Initial Expectations from Integration with the Publish@Ionio Ecosystem Met? All the participants agreed that, through collaboration with the development team and due to the common styling base of the website layout, their initial expectations with regard to aesthetics were met to a very high degree. The general consensus was that the simple, clean, and user-friendly layout used in the websites is a major strength of the ecosystem and that the way information is presented in each website makes for a very efficient visitor UX. P7 described the departure from complex layouts found in modern websites as refreshing, and P2 was pleasantly surprised by the ease with which they were able to locate specific information and functionality; the neatness and order of the design evoked in them an emotion of pleasure. P5 noted that they were very pleased with the complete redesign of the website they manage, where no changes were made to the functionality and content of the website, while the aesthetics were fundamentally altered and conveyed the positive emotional reaction of their whole department. 2.3 Which Design Features of Your Websites Are Shared with the Framework and to What Degree Were the Specific Needs of Your Website Met? The consensus among the participants was that uniformity and consistency between the websites of the ecosystem is essential. They also agreed that, despite the uniformity, the features of each website are distinct and represent their individual needs. P7 mentioned that the shared philosophy that is apparent among different websites makes them feel more comfortable. P3 found that the layout was very adaptable, although the basic structure was dictated by features that were commonly shared. P5 reported that visitors navigating between different websites are accustomed to specific layout features that these websites share and can always identify the sought-out information regardless of the websites' individual aesthetics. P2 agreed that it is very important for the visitor to be able to quickly locate information on websites having distinct aesthetics within the same ecosystem, although P6 noted that, sometimes, uniformity is unattainable as most of the websites are introduced with particular requirements originating from the real-life characteristics of the offices or activities they represent online. 2.4 To What Extent Did the Functionality Features of the Ecosystem Meet Your Website's Requirements? All of the participants agreed that the functionality features of the ecosystem were more than enough to cover the needs of the websites they managed, and these features not only served their purpose with regard to their function but also greatly contributed to the overall aesthetics of the website. P7 noted that, through participating in managing many websites, they could not find a use case in which a functionality feature was not available to accommodate each website's specific needs. As an example of specialized functionality, P3 mentioned the subsystem for submitting participation applications for educational programs, where applicants can submit information and upload documents through a simple and user-friendly online environment. 2.5 How Satisfied Are You with the User Experience Offered by the Content Management Platform of the Ecosystem in Terms of Usability and Presentation?