Changing The Guardian through “Guerilla usability testing”
1. “Changing The Guardian through
guerilla usability testing"
Martin Belam
UPA Conference - Atlanta 2011
Lead User Experience & Information Architect,
The Guardian
@currybet
13. Let your location be your “screener”
http://www.flickr.com/photos/55935853@N00/3315381249/
14. I pounce on people in public to test our services
15. What about when it all goes wrong?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49392213@N00/5094020075/
16. 1 Get the right software
I use Silverback on my Mac,
and a Flip camcorder for
“vox-pops”.
17. 2 Clear computer clutter
Use a blank desktop and
switch off any software likely
to generate “alerts”.
18. 3 Use a new browser profile
You don’t want cookies or
automatic search or URL
completion affecting the test.
19. 4 Take someone else with you
You’ll have lots to carry, and
a mix of genders may make it
easier to approach people.
20. 5 Prepare your opening lines
You have to repeatedly
approach strangers.
Be sure of what you’ll say.
21. 6
Be ready to improvise
If you stumble across a
user of any of your services,
be prepared to test that too.
22. 7 Make clip reels, not epics
I try to make a “maximal” cut
of everything useful, then
edit it into themed clip reels.
23. 8
Know the limits of consent
There is a reason I haven’t
shown any clips in this
presentation.
24. 9 This is not science
This is quick, dirty & cheap.
Make sure that the rest
of the business knows that.
25. 10 Be polite. To everyone.
Not just to users, but if you
are hanging around a café,
ask first and buy coffee.
26. More testing. More open. Better products.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/49392213@N00/5094020075/
27. “Changing The Guardian through
guerilla usability testing"
Martin Belam
Lead User Experience & Information Architect,
The Guardian
@currybet
www.currybet.net
martin.belam@guardian.co.uk
