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UX Testing – How to put user experience to a test?

15 maja 2019

What makes a good product? Is it a good idea behind? Great, eye-catching design? Maybe it’s the best to make the project as easily usable as possible? When it comes to apps and websites, a mix of good, well-thought design and optimized technology is key. The base of good UX is to ensure that using the product is a piece of cake for the user. The next step is to design it in a way that will pleasure them aesthetically. Various UX tests are performed to check the usability of a developing project, in order to make sure that the created product will be valuable.

But how exactly do you check such a complex issue? This is a moment when the UX testing methods come in handy. There are many of them. Some are easy and require just a moment of thinking and observing, others use high-tech solutions to check the exact numbers. The easiest way to check any type of product is to simply use it and see what happens during usage and afterwards. So, analogically, testing the UX is as simple as putting someone in front of the screen. What you see at the very beginning is really important. In fact, this specific aspect has its own test, called the “5 seconds test”. It is obvious that you can make the first impression only once. By allowing testers to see the screen only for a moment, you can check how the project influences the user at first sight. It shows how intuitive the design is, what stands out the most, what is memorable or simply what are users’ thoughts of the design. Does it seem trustworthy, professional or clean? Maybe there is something distracting in the project? These questions are really important, because the in the first few seconds, future users will decide whether they like it or not. And the effect of these decisions is crucial, as 75% judge company’s credibility and quality by its website

Also, there is a more complex way of testing your product, which can be combined with the 5 seconds test. It’s behavioral and relies on completing certain tasks. Allow the testers to use your website as it’s intended to be. Tell them to perform a specific action and see how it goes. Make a clear statement – “we are testing the product, not you”, as the testers should feel comfortable sharing their opinions. There are some ways to test your UX solutions. Perform an expectancy test – does everything seem predictable and intuitive? Ask for a judgement – on a scale 1-5 how hard is it to complete the tasks? Try to record as much of the test as possible – audio, video, screen capture – it will pay off in the future.

You have completed the test, you know what’s good and what’s not. What now? The answer seems to be obvious – you need to get rid of the weak parts of your product. But actually, it’s not the right way to deal with the problems. The key here is to fix your website immediately when flaws occur. This way you will be perfecting the website instead of ruining it and building all over again.

If you are determined to make your UX solutions perfect, you can try eye-tracking systems. Analyzing how humans see, what they focus on, how to stimulate them in order to get the best results. This high-tech method can deliver outstanding effects, allowing to optimize colors, shapes and ratios to create the greatest design possible. You can combine it with user interviews  maximize your awareness. Something is missing? You add it. There is something that is too small and not visible enough? You change it. Something distracts the users from what is the most important? You do something about it. And you know perfectly how, why and what you need to do, based on solid statistics. You can use the results of eye-tracking in many different ways – you can share it, create heat maps, create some infographics, etc. The knowledge is priceless.

As we can see clearly, there are many ways of testing your UX solutions. It doesn’t matter whether you chose all of them combined, or focus on one specific method, you can always get value of it. Use the ones that suit you and your project the best, and always remember, there is no way to develop a great product without well-designed, aesthetic and intuitive UX!