User Research Workflow
Design is about creating experiences for people.
User testing gives users a voice.
Research in
Development Lifecycle
Conducting user research allows continuous optimization of products and services in order to improve usability and answer user needs.
Fail fast,
fail often
Conduct lean user research that matches the agile pace
Start with low-fidelity prototypes and iterate.
Catch design flaws early
Plan tests as part of the development
Set an ongoing test timeline (Beta, per release/Q/sprint, etc.)
Include improvements as part of the development timeline
Test every stage of the development process
Research methods
Persona Identification & Use Cases
Preliminary study for a new service or feature in order to get insights about the use cases and the personas.
Observe users to gain qualitative insights of real life usage
Survey people who match the personas to gain quantitative insights of needs and preferences
Review any existing usage data that will provide more quantitative insights of actual usage
Concept Testing
High-level assessment of design concepts before development to validate & decide between different design solutions.
Prepare a prototype of your design and test it with real users
Use online testing with participants who match the personas
Guerrilla testing - use a paper prototype or a high-level mockup of the design to gain quick insights
Usability Study
Validate a design with real users in order to detect usability flaws and collect feedback.
Onsite usability testing - meet your users in-person, observe and ask questions throughout.
Remote/online study - meet users online, using a conferencing tool with screen sharing and video.
Observation - observe users in relevant contexts as they perform regular tasks
Satisfaction Measurement
Collect user feedback on products & services, and measure improvement over time.
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Measure satisfaction score (CSAT/NPS) and collect candid, honest feedback
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Ask specific questions about interactions and experiences with the products
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Aim to reach actionable, data-driven insights to drive improvement
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Perform this as an ongoing process in order to measure improvement over time