This document discusses usability testing and provides guidance on how to conduct usability tests. It defines usability testing as a method to assess the usability of user interfaces with real users. The document outlines the steps to conduct usability testing, including defining target users, writing a research brief, planning test sessions and tasks, conducting testing, analyzing findings, and making changes. It emphasizes the importance of testing with real users and observing how they interact rather than just what they say. The overall goal of usability testing is to improve the interface based on user feedback.

1. Photo credit: Croswald9 via Flickr 2014 (CC BY-SA 2.0)
by Tiana Tasich, digitelling.agency
tiana@digitelling.agency
@teengily
WAM WORKSHOP: INTRODUCTION TO
USABILITY TESTING

2. WAM WORKSHOP: INTRODUCTION TO
USABILITY TESTING
by Tiana Tasich, digitelling.agency
tiana@digitelling.agency
@teengily
Photo credit: Tiana Tasich

3. THE BEST DIGITAL
PRODUCTS SOLVE
REAL-LIFE
PROBLEMS
Photo credit: Tiana Tasich

4. Photo credit: Tiana Tasich

5. UNDERSTAND
YOUR AUDIENCES
Photo credit: Tiana Tasich

6. RESEARCH AND
EVALUATION METHODS
Qualitative
In-depth interviews
Focus groups
Observations
User feedback&comments
Usability testing
Quantitative
Third-party database
Internal systems’ database
Surveys
Web analytics
Heatmaps
AB testing
Photo credit: Tiana Tasich

7. RESEARCH AND
EVALUATION METHODS
Qualitative
In-depth interviews
Focus groups
Observations
User feedback&comments
Usability testing
Quantitative
Third-party database
Internal systems’ database
Surveys
Web analytics
Heatmaps
AB testing
Photo credit: Tiana Tasich

8. “Usability testing is a method for
assessing usability of user interfaces
with real users.
WHAT IS USABILITY TESTING?

9. “Usability testing is a method for
assessing usability of user interfaces
with real users.
WHAT IS USABILITY TESTING?

10. “Usability is a quality attribute relating to how easy
something is to use. More specifically, it refers to how
quickly people can learn to use something, how efficient
they are while using it, how memorable it is, how error-
prone it is, and how much users like using it.
If people can't or won't use a feature, it might as well not
exist.
-Nielsen, J. & Loranger, H. (2006) Prioritizing Web Usability
WHAT IS USABILITY?

11. “Usability testing is a method for
assessing usability of user interfaces
with real users.
WHAT IS USABILITY TESTING?

12. TEST WITH REAL USERS
Photo credit: Flickr mitinteractivetechdesign CC

13. “Usability testing is a method for
assessing usability of user interfaces
with real users.
WHAT IS USABILITY TESTING?

14. USABILITY OF INTERFACES
http://www.thedrum.com/news/2013/07/17/london-museum-brands-launches-new-mobile-ready-website-activation

15. USABILITY OF INTERFACES
Photo credit: Imperial War Museum, London, UK

16. “Usability testing is a method for
assessing usability of user interfaces
with real users.
WHAT IS USABILITY TESTING?

17. Define target users
Write a research brief
(Choose a usability expert)
Plan the sessions and user tasks
Get the prototype/product ready
Conduct testing sessions
Analyse findings
Prioritise and make changes to
the interface
Do it all over again
USABILITY TESTING:
TO-DO LIST

18. Define target users
Write a research brief
(Choose a usability expert)
Plan the sessions and user tasks
Get the prototype/product ready
Conduct testing sessions
Analyse findings
Prioritise and make changes to
the interface
Do it all over again
USABILITY TESTING:
TO-DO LIST
Photo credit: Tiana Tasich

19. DEFINE AND PRIORITISE USERS
Understanding website visitors, Tate, 2015

20. Define target users
Write a research brief
(Choose a usability expert)
Plan the sessions and user tasks
Get the prototype/product ready
Conduct testing sessions
Analyse findings
Prioritise and make changes to
the interface
Do it all over again
USABILITY TESTING:
TO-DO LIST
➤ Purpose
➤ Objectives
➤ Target users
➤ Suggested user goals and tasks
➤ Timings
➤ Budget
➤ Any dependencies

21. USABILITY TESTING:
TO-DO LIST
Define target users
Write a research brief
(Choose a usability expert)
Plan the sessions and user tasks
Get the prototype/product ready
Conduct testing sessions
Analyse findings
Prioritise and make changes to
the interface
Do it all over again
Photo credit: Tiana Tasich

22. AS ERIC
I WOULD
LIKE TO…
SO THAT
I CAN…
Photo credit: Tiana Tasich

23. USABILITY TESTING:
TO-DO LIST
Define target users
Write a research brief
(Choose a usability expert)
Plan the sessions and user tasks
Get the prototype/product ready
Conduct testing sessions
Analyse findings
Prioritise and make changes to
the interface
Do it all over again
➤ Information architecture and taxonomy
➤ Findability: search ability and
browseability
➤ Specific functions and journeys: media
slideshows, video players, user login
journeys…
➤ Design layouts

24. Define target users
Write a research brief
(Choose a usability expert)
Plan the sessions and user tasks
Get the prototype/product ready
Conduct testing sessions
Analyse findings
Prioritise and make changes to
the interface
Do it all over again
USABILITY TESTING:
TO-DO LIST
A screenshot of a Tate’s website prototype

25. Define target users
Write a research brief
(Choose a usability expert)
Plan the sessions and user tasks
Get the prototype/product ready
Conduct testing sessions
Analyse findings
Prioritise and make changes to
the interface
Do it all over again
USABILITY TESTING:
TO-DO LIST
Photo credit: Tiana Tasich

26. Photo credit: Tiana Tasich
USABILITY TESTING:
TO-DO LIST
Define target users
Write a research brief
(Choose a usability expert)
Plan the sessions and user tasks
Get the prototype/product ready
Conduct testing sessions
Analyse findings
Prioritise and make changes to
the interface
Do it all over again

27. Photo credit: Tiana Tasich
Define target users
Write a research brief
(Choose a usability expert)
Plan the sessions and user
tasks
Get the prototype/product
ready
Conduct testing sessions
Analyse findings
Prioritise and make changes
to the interface
Do it all over again
USABILITY TESTING:
TO-DO LIST
Photo credit: Tiana Tasich

28. Photo credit: Tiana Tasich
Define target users
Write a research brief
(Choose a usability expert)
Plan the sessions and user tasks
Get the prototype/product ready
Conduct testing sessions
Analyse findings
Prioritise and make changes to
the interface
Do it all over again
USABILITY TESTING:
TO-DO LIST
Photo credit: Eerika Omyale

29. “Watch what they do and how they
interact not just what they say!

30. DON’T MAKE IT PERFECT
DON’T MAKE EXCUSES
HAVE SHORT-TERM ACHIEVABLE
GOALS
GO FOR IT

31. THANK YOU
Get in touch:
Tiana Tasich, digitelling.agency
tiana@digitelling.agency
@teengily
Photo credit: Tiana Tasich