Tips and technies for low-effort, low-cost usability testing presented at UX Copenhagen 2017.

1. Never show
a design you
haven’t
tested
Ida Aalen
UX Copenhagen
March 8th, 2017

2. Find the tools
mentioned here:
bit.ly/tools-for-testing

3. 1.
Hygiene

4. 2.
Innovation

5. 3.
Guidance

6. The a-ha moment

7. The a-ha moment

8. The a-ha moment

12. Get testing
into the
project plan.

13. #1
Don’t make it
optional

14. #2
Describe the
objective, not the
procedure

15. “Quality assurance and testing: We’ll use the
methods we deem most suitable at
different stages of the process (e.g., usability
lab test, guerilla testing, click tests,
pluralistic walkthroughs, etc.) to make sure
we get it right.

16. #3
Scale down the
documentation, not
the testing

17. 20-30 minute
break between
each test subject

20. #4
Scale down the
prototype, not the
testing

21. Paper sketch
Paper prototype
Wireframes Photoshop sketch
InvisionApp
Plain HTML
prototype
HTML & CSS
prototype
Interactive
Flat
Rough, lo-fi Detailed visuals, hi-fi
Functional Final product
Text

22. #5
But never
compromise on
testing with actual
users

23. Colleagues
are not your users
(unless you’re making an intranet)

24. Designers
are not your users
(unless you’re designing Dribbble)

25. Developers
are not your users
(unless you’re designing Github)

26. 1 in 3
problems
experts finds are
false alarms
1 in 2
problems that
users have gets
overlooked by
experts

27. 5

28. N (1-(1-L)n)

29. 0%
25%
50%
75%
100%
Number of Test Users
0 3 6 9 12 15
UsabilityProblemsFound

30. Quantitative
Qualitative
Self-reported Observed
Surveys
A/B-testing
Usability testing
Interviews
Focus groups Field studies
Google Analytics
Search analytics
“Was this
useful?”
Social media
word of mouth

31. 7
low-cost,
low-effort
techniques

32. #1
Hit the streets
Time: 1-4 hours
Price: Snacks

33. It’s this easy:

35. #2
Information
architecture
Time: 30 min+
Price: Free / $99-199 per
month

42. #3
First click
Time: 30 min+
Price: Free / $99-199 per
month

45. #4
Live experiments
Time: 30 min+
Price: Free (e.g. Hotjar +
Google Analytics)

51. #5
Did you get it done?
Time: 15 min+
Price: Free / Task Analytics
from 8000NOK per month

54. http://oslobeta.no/2015/10/02/statustikkinator/

55. Add this script to
your site, e.g. using
Google Tag Manager

58. #6
Microtesting
content
Time: 30 min+
Price: Free

59. QUESTION 1
Read the title and description. Write down
3-4 questions you expect will be answered
on this page.
Don’t peek!
Step #1:
Read the title and
description. Think of
3-4 questions you
expect will be
answered on this
page.

60. Dementia
Get advice from professionals.
The first signs of dementia are often vague, and it may therefore be difficult
to make a diagnosis. Many people with dementia say that they are
experiencing things that were simple, has become more difficult.
Some of the early signs of dementia are:
What can you do?
Are you worried if you or a loved one has dementia, you should contact a
GP. It can take time to make a diagnosis of dementia. Before contacting a
GP, you may want to think through, and note a few key words about these
points:
reduced attention and concentration: You may think it's been difficult
to follow a conversation.
memory failure: You experience a sudden feeling to have forgotten
what you have done earlier in the day.
language problems: You may have trouble remembering what things
are called.
sudden moments of confusion: You might find that you lose track,
even in simple everyday situations.
Step #2:
Highlight where
your questions are
answered. Does
the content
meet the
need?
Feedback on
needs, not
grammar

61. Hi, can you check out this text for me?
It’ll take 5 minutes.
I’ve sent you a couple of e-mails,
could you open the first one?

62. #7
Weekly drop-in test
Time: 6 h per project +
time spent observing
Costs: rewarding subjects +
setting up a lab

63. You don’t need a
fancy lab.

64. If you need recordings:
+
Silverback
Mac
Camtasia
Mac og PC
/

65. If you need an
observantion room:
Testmaskin Observasjon
+ Hangouts+

68. If you’re testing on
mobile

69. «Hugging»

70. After you set up the lab:
Test day e.g. every Wednesday
One person responsible for moderating
and recruiting test subjects
4 test subjects each time
People sign up to have their projects
tested
Multiple projects can be tested each
time

72. 7 methods:
1. Hit the streets
2. Information architecture
3. First click
4. Live experiments
5. Did you get it done
6. Microtesting content
7. Weekly drop-in lab test

73. 7 methods:
1. Hit the streets
2. Information architecture
3. First click
4. Live experiments
5. Did you get it done
6. Microtesting content
7. Weekly drop-in lab test

74. 7 methods:
1. Hit the streets
2. Information architecture
3. First click
4. Live experiments
5. Did you get it done
6. Microtesting content
7. Weekly drop-in lab test

75. 7 methods:
1. Hit the streets
2. Information architecture
3. First click
4. Live experiments
5. Did you get it done
6. Microtesting content
7. Weekly drop-in lab test

77. Thank
you!
Ida Aalen
idaaa.no
hei@idaaalen.no
bit.ly/tools-for-testing