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USABILITY TESTING Common approaches July 2013

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INDEX 2

1.  USER CENTRED DESIGN PROCESS

2.  USABILITY TESTING: DIFFERENT APPROACHES

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1. USER CENTRED DESIGN PROCESS

When designing, one of the primary concerns is to clearly understand who the

end users will be and what their work environment is. Then, proceed on a step-

basis-process toward the creation of a prototype, anticipating the final model.

DESIGN STRATEGY &

ANALYSIS

INFORMATION ARCHITECTURE

WIREFRAME & CONTENT SIGN OFF

LOOK & FEEL PROPOSAL

PAGE & TEMPLATE

DESIGN

MOCK UP SAMPLE SREENS

DESIGN SPECIFICATION DEVELOPMENT

USER TEST

YES

NO

USER TEST

YES

NO

AGILE AGENCY MODEL

*The process is compliant with ISO 13407, 1999 - Human centred design processes for interactive systems

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User testing can take place while working on the project, in order to evaluate the

effectiveness of design solutions and put into perspective an eventual re-work.

WIREFRAME & CONTENT SIGN OFF

LOOK & FEEL PROPOSAL

PAGE & TEMPLATE

DESIGN

MOCK UP SAMPLE SREENS

DESIGN SPECIFICATION

USER TEST

YES

NO

USER TEST

YES

NO

DEVELOPMENT REDESIGN

USABILITY TEST

1. USER CENTRED DESIGN PROCESS

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INDEX 5

1.  USER CENTRED DESIGN PROCESS

2.  USABILITY TESTING: DIFFERENT APPROACHES

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Usability tests are a set of different approaches which have the aim to discover

usability issues.

Common approaches:

REDESIGN DEVELOPMENT

USABILITY TEST

•   Heuristic analysis

•   Usability test with user panel

•   Focus group

•   Eye tracking

2. USABILITY TESTING: DIFFERENT APPROACHES

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Heuristic Analysis is a usability test performed at least by 2 usability expert. The test

consists of a review that takes into account the usability heuristics (a list of recognized

common usability issues).

•   RESOURCES 2 usability expert

No user involved

•   COST

Low: is intended to be a “discount usability method”

•   OUTPUT

Light usability report

2.1 USABILITY TESTING: Heuristics

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Usability Test measure actual performance on mission-critical tasks to be completed on a

website or application. The test begin with the identification of the target audience, that

will consist of one or more user groups.

When conducting user testing, the researcher asks participants to complete various tasks

without any guidance (ex: find out how to contact technical support). The facilitator

measure the time taken for each single task/user and issues encountered.

The final output is a usability report that describe and prioritize all the usability issues

found and suggest design action for the redesign of these functionalities.

•   RESOURCES 3 usability expert

15 users to discover 85% of the usability issues

•   COST

Medium

•   OUTPUT

Complete usability report

2.2 USABILITY TESTING: User Tests

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Focus Group is a guided discussion with a panel of user to assess feelings, attitudes and

thoughts on a given topic.

A moderator facilitates a small group of 4 to 12 participants by demonstrating or showing

them a product or concept. The results of focus groups can be used as a basis for

generating hypotheses for further evaluations.

2.3 USABILITY TESTING: Focus Groups

•   RESOURCES 2 usability expert

4-12 users

•   COST

High

•   OUTPUT

User insight report

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Eye Tracking augments traditional usability methods, and can be used together with them.

This methodology provides researchers and practitioners with objective data that the test

participant cannot report and the researcher cannot observe.

Unique insights about first glance, search patterns, failed search, and much more offer

guidance in how to solve different usability problems. 

•   RESOURCES 2 usability expert

10-15 users to have a significant set of data

•   COST

High

•   OUTPUT

ET report complementary with the usability report

2.4 USABILITY TESTING: Eye Tracking

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THANKS!