What is usability testing?

Usability testing is a type of user research in which real users are asked to complete realistic tasks with a prototype, web site or product. It can be used to identify areas for improvement at the beginning of a redesign or during development before a new web site or system is actually implemented.  Usability tests can be facilitated in person or online, allowing a wider range of participants to contribute.

Why conduct usability tests?

Usability tests provide important insights as to why people may get confused, make mistakes, become frustrated, or feel dissatisfied with a product. Our experienced facilitators conduct usability tests to observe people interacting with products, because what people do is not necessarily the same as what they say. 

How do we conduct expert usability evaluation?

For existing products, you may start with an expert evaluation before engaging your users in usability testing. Applying our understanding of the tasks and questions that users have, we “put ourselves in their shoes” and look for challenges and barriers. A small team of usability experts evaluates and makes recommendations for improvements. You quickly receive findings on subjects such as navigation and information findability, clarity of communication, page layouts, interactions, error recovery, consistency, visual cues, and more.

Our methodology includes 
  • Informal user feedback sessions, in which we show users multiple alternative designs or get feedback on changes to a design
  • Usability testing in a lab, on site with users wherever they are, or remotely using screen sharing
  • Expert reviews, in which our team evaluates the product on best practices for usability and user experience, and user tasks and questions