Open Call Usability Testing: Creating an Ongoing UX Testing Program
1. Open Call Usability Testing
Creating an Ongoing UX
Testing Program
Silvia Inéz Salazar, MPA
Human-Centered Informatics
Laboratory Manager
Office of Communication and Education
2.
3.
4. Traditional UX in Government
• $50-$80k
• Write RFP & SOW
• OMB & IRB Approval
• Hire contractor
• Create schedule
• Assemble team
• Kickoff
• Evaluate site
• Write scenarios
• Site requirements
• Identify audience
• Begin recruitment
• Conduct testing
• Analysis & reporting
• Implementation
5.
6. Open Call Usability Testing
• Every eight weeks
• Pre-test design ideas, layouts, info seeking
patterns, social media, mobile platforms, English,
Spanish
• Feedback from specific user groups
• Two to four different projects
• One hour sessions with 9 participants
• Training for observers
• Debrief, brainstorming, present findings,
implementation
7. Benefits
• Feedback throughout project life cycle
• UX is readily available
• Quickly address difficult questions
• Build UX culture
• Same cost as traditional usability test
8. Wins
• Testing of more than 120 projects in
English and Spanish
• Address and understand different user
groups
• Mutual support
• Increase institutional knowledge