User Testing
The objective of User Testing is to observe actual user performance, paying particular attention to where real people encounter difficulty. User testing provides behavioural insights by observing how people use a product or service.
User testing can be conducted on web sites, software, mobile devices, or even physical environments. We have performed user testing on everything from paper-based prototypes through to high fidelity, complete interfaces.
Benefits
Although other techniques are valuable, it is often hard to predict what real users will do. A user test will identify aspects of a design that cause real users difficulty, confusion, or misunderstanding. The evidence is objective and realistic, not based on personal opinion or speculation. User testing with low fidelity prototypes early in the design process allows the team to make modifications early on and before it becomes too costly to make changes.
Typical deliverables
Low fidelity: A short report of recommended changes and a debrief meeting with the project team.
High fidelity: Video footage and a report of recommended changes, typically 25 - 30 pages in length (excluding appendices).
Typical duration
Low fidelity: 1 - 3 weeks
High fidelity: 2 - 6 weeks
Clients
We have done user testing for clients such as:
- Institute of Chartered Accountants
- Department of Conservation
- University of Canterbury
- ACC
- Trademe
In industries as diverse as:
- Finance
- Education
- Travel & Tourism
- Telecommunications
- IT
- E-commerce
- Government
Testing a variety of technologies such as:
- Internet sites
- Extranet sites
- Intranet sites
- Paper prototypes
- Software
- Mobile phones
- In-car navigation devices
