Testing
Flow Map
The last phase in the design process is Test. Although this is the last phase, it may not always be the final phase. During the test phase, you may find out new information that causes you to have to go back and revisit a previous phase. The design process could also end up becoming an infinite loop. Some things may never be quite finished and the end result may continue to be updated and redesigned. Even with the products that are finished and cannot be updated, there is always room for reflection and learning about what could be done better. Testing allows us to refine what we have learned and achieve a solution to the problem we set out to define.
Some of the ways testing can occur are through screening, launching and collecting data, publishing, printing, debugging, shipping the product, promoting what you have created, releasing, and testing a beta version.
The research being done in the test phase can be conducted under either the category of qualitative or qualitative research. Surveys and formal experiments are considered quantitative research tools, as they provide a method to seek to measure user behavior and obtain the statistical analysis. On the other hand, interviews and usability tests are examples of qualitative research. These research methods are more exploratory and aim to obtain a more in-depth understanding.
When planning user testing there are some guidelines that will lead to better results. The first guideline is to let your users compare alternatives. Creating multiple prototypes allows for the users to say what they like and dislike about each. Next is to show, and don’t tell; you must let your users experience the prototype and figure it out for themselves. It is also important to ask users to talk through their experiences. This way, you can get a better idea of what is going on in the minds of the user. Next, you need to observe the user and see how they use it either “correctly” or “incorrectly.” Lastly, always ask follow-up questions to make sure you have a complete understanding of the user’s thoughts.
To create our app design, we have to go through all the design phases and are now refining a final product. In our user testing, we handed the app to the user with no context and allowed them to try and figure it out. Doing this, allowed us to see what was unclear and what needed to be fixed. It was very interesting observing and notetaking throughout the process. There were so many things, that I, as the designer, thought were clear, but in the hands of someone else, did not make sense. Situations such as that are exactly the reason why testing is so imperative. As designers, we need to know if we met our goal of creating a user-friendly product that is easy for the consumer and is not too complex.
The main goal from this stage is to create a product that is relevant and easy to use. The goal is to have solved the question previously defined and come up with fun creative solutions that draw in user’s attention.
Sources:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UVEQCNM6X-A&ab_channel=MindfulMarks
https://www.interaction-design.org/literature/article/stage-5-in-the-design-thinking-process-test