The slides from my Ignite-session on UX Camp Cph 2013

1. Rapid UX Test
• Combo
– Rapid prototypes
– Guerilla user test
• Simple, cheap
– Can be done in 1½ day
– Might streatch up to 10 days

2. Planning?
• Who are the test users?
– In-house
– From ‘the real world’
• Who will participate in the test?
– Test Lead – YOU!
– Observers/’test computer’
– Note Takers

3. Day 1 - Hour 1: Create small test tasks
• Purpose of test?
– New design
– Known problems
– General evaluation
• Keep them short and simple
– 3-5 may be executed in ½ an hour

4. Day 1 - Hour 2-4: Make a prototype
• Use your favourite tool
– The better you know your tool, the faster the
sketching
– Paper or digital?
• Depends on what should be tested!
• Paper is easiest to get around with, though…

5. Day 1 - Hour 2-4: Make a prototype
• SKETCH different solutions
– The worse it looks, the better the feed-back
– Make sure the general idea is detectable, though
– Hand drawing themes/stencils are usually
available for you favorite tool

6. Day 1 - Hour 5: Lunch + review of
tasks
• Enjoy some time away from your desk
– Get some new energy
• Review and correct
– Spelling mistakes
– Relevance of tasks (will the purpose of the test be
achieved)

7. Day 1 - Hour 6: Review prototype
• May tasks be solved using the sketches?
• Print
• If possible use the Rolf Harris/Jørgen Clevin
approach
– Fold accordions
– Produce post-it dropdowns
– Cut out dialogue boxes
– etc

8. Day 1 - Hour 7-8: Get test users
• You should probably have contacted them in
hour 1 already…
• ½ an hour sometime tomorrow?
• I’ll come to you if that helps…
• 3 C’s
– Call
– Cajole/Caress
– Confirm

9. Sleep

10. Day 2 - Hour 1-2: Perform 2-3 tests
• Gather the test team (might just be you)
• Take prototype under arm
• Test with first 2-3 users
– ‘test computer’ doesn’t talk (useful instruction for
the developer playing the computer)
– keep the mood light
– Keep to the allotted ½ hour
• Allow time after each test to make notes and
‘re-set’ the prototype

11. Day 2 - Hour 3-4: Evaluate & Update
• Compare notes from previous 2-3 tests
• Update test tasks as necessary
• Can the prototype be updated with solutions
to findings in an hour or so?
• Fix/adjust as much as possible

12. Day 2 - Hour 5: Lunch + review of
changes
• Enjoy some time away from your desk
– Get some new energy
– Take a deep breath
• Review and correct
– Spelling mistakes
– Slips in the sketches

13. Day 2 - Hour 6-7: Perform 2-3 tests
• Gather the test team (might just be you)
• Take new prototype under arm
• Test with final 2-3 users
– ‘test computer’ doesn’t talk (still useful instruction
for the developer playing the computer)
– keep the mood light
– Keep to the allotted ½ hour
• Allow time after each test to make notes and
‘re-set’ the prototype

14. Day 2 - Hour 8: Describe problems and
grade them
• Compare notes
• Identify pain points and causes
• Grade them, e.g.
– Catastrophic: Impossible to finish task
– Serious error: Finished task with assistance
– Annoyance: Finished task but struggled a bit
– Idea: Suggestions for new functionality

15. Day 2 - Hour 9: Find possible solutions
to problems
• Identify quick wins
• Take the rest from the top
– Most serious issues are addressed first
– It’s late, you’re tired
– It fun, though!
• You may have to use hour 10 as well
– And possibly hour 11…

16. Day 3 - Hour 1-2: Present problems
and solutions to the team
• Gather the development team
– Includes Product Manager/Owner
• Present findings verbally
– Use sketches for illustration
– Discuss grading/prioritisation

17. Day 3 - Hour 1-2: Present problems
and solutions to the team
• Present possible solutions
– Allow for developers and other team members to
weigh in
– Agree on solutions

18. Day 3 - Hour 3-4: Write-up change
requests/finish sketches

19. Done!

20. Until…
• Day 1 - Hour 1: Create small test tasks
• Day 1 - Hour 2-4: Make a prototype
• Day 1 - Hour 5: Lunch + review of tasks
• Day 1 - Hour 6: Review prototype
• Day 1 - Hour 7-8: Get testers
• Day 2 - Hour 1-2: Perform 2-3 tests
• Day 2 - Hour 3-4: Evaluate & Update prototype
• Day 2 - Hour 5: Lunch + review of test
• Day 2 - Hour 6-7: Perform 2-3 tests
• Day 2 - Hour 8: Describe problems and grade them
• Day 2 - Hour 9: Find possible solutions to problems
• Day 3 - Hour 1-2: Present problems and solutions to the team
• Day 3 - Hour 3-4: Write-up change requests/finish sketches