The Easy Way to Successful User Testing

User testing is essential because it clearly illustrates, in real-time, how users interact with your product. Perhaps most importantly, user testing helps reveal any product issues. This you want to discover before you reach the final version of your product, as any changes at that point can turn out to be costly and time-consuming. In this regard, user testing helps you save money that would have typically been spent on last-minute design and development costs, which means you can spend your time more effectively by focusing on other things that need your attention.

Not everyone has the budget to run a complex usability test. But keep in mind that the equipment and resources used don't need to be overly complicated. They are many free or cheap tools ready to help you wireframe and prototype your product, as well as assist you during the actual test phase. It can be done anywhere, anytime, in person or online, as long as you have a laptop and a steady Internet connection. It is not the complexity of the equipment that matters - the important thing is that you are running a usability test!

If this is your first usability test, we recommend keeping the prototype short and simple, as there is no need to complicate the process with an over-designed prototype. And on that same note, it also doesn't need to be a perfect prototype. While it is difficult for designers to show off their work while still in the "sketch phase" (I know this all too well!), the prototype only needs to show its basic purpose and central functions. The usability test will then help you to see if the design assumptions you made were correct. The goal here is to simply gather as much feedback as soon as possible. For this job, we use Sketch.

The next step is to understand and narrow your audience in order to recruit people in that group and user-test for it. It nearly goes without saying that there's no point in spending a considerable amount of time on a usability test if it gets tested on the wrong target! Be sure to spend some time finding the right kind of people for your test, and make sure the people you recruit relate to the problem you are trying to solve. Be sure to stay away from people close to the project, as their bias would most likely prevent candid feedback.

When you made your selection and are ready to start the test, it's essential to inform the participants that you are not testing them but the software. Since people are generally uncomfortable when being tested, keep it clear that there are no wrong answers. They should be open about how they feel, and not be afraid to point out product flaws or errors as this stage is where the magic really happens in user testing!

Before the test itself, you should spend some time laying out the goals you want to achieve. Think about what exactly you want to test, such as which features may or may not work. For example, create a script with a series of questions or tasks that would assist the users while testing the product. Just keep in mind that the way you ask the participants to do certain things has an enormous impact on your tests' outcome, as your script should not be a set of instructions. Remember, no one is standing over their shoulder telling them what to do in the real world. Your goal is to see how they react to the task, and helping them out in any way defeats that purpose.

After testing on a group of subjects, it’s time to see the results. As previously stated, user testing can reveal an unbelievable amount of details regarding the ways users interact with your product. Be critical when reading the results, and look for what differs between the users and what stays the same. Try to identify if users could complete the tasks successfully and how efficiently they were in doing so. Evaluate what works and what didn’t and pinpoint design elements that need to be changed. It’s also important to see if the user felt any enjoyment when testing the product and if so, figure out how you can increase that enjoyment. You will ultimately end up with a handful of objective and subjective findings that provide valuable feedback to shape and improve your design and product experience.

In the end, user testing is a critical part of the design process that, if possible, should not be avoided. If your goal is to create the best product for your audience, you need to know what your audience thinks about. Tests don’t need to run in high-tech laboratory conditions to be worthwhile. The most important thing is that you are testing your product, no matter how informal.  

It’s up to you to choose how to execute and adapt this formula to your needs, but it will become much easier as you learn over time and conduct multiple tests. Be smart about it, do your research, run it well, and it will bring a lot of value in the long run. In the end, it’s just about getting some feedback to create a better product.

Test on!