User testing is a process that helps designers and product managers identify problems in the product development lifecycle by gathering feedback from users. It can be performed at all stages of the design process and is most effective when using prototypes. User testing is sometimes referred to as usability testing, but there is a difference.

Usability testing focuses on whether a product meets user expectations, while user testing evaluates if the product fills a need or solves a problem. Both prototypes and mockups can be used for testing, but prototypes are preferred for user testing. Companies like Apple and Microsoft have missed out on this critical step in the past, leading to unsuccessful product releases.

There are two main types of user tests that designers and user researchers can use: comparative and explorative. Comparative tests are used to compare two versions of a product or website, or different features of a product or site. Explorative tests, on the other hand, are used to test a range of different services by giving users realistic scenarios to complete. This helps identify gaps in the market and where to focus design efforts.

Performing user tests with prototypes provides valuable feedback that designers can use early in the design process to avoid costly mistakes. One major benefit of using prototypes for user testing is that it allows designers to determine what users consider to be the product’s purpose. This can help to ensure that the product meets the needs and expectations of the target audience.

There are several potential benefits of using prototypes for user testing. For example, using a five-second test, users are shown a page or product feature for five seconds and then asked to describe it. This is a particularly relevant test given people’s time constraints and the need to understand in a short period what a product can or cannot do for them.

Other benefits include the ability to use a “fail fast” methodology, cost reductions, unbiased perspective, and uncovering hidden opportunities.

Here are some guidelines and recommended practices for conducting user tests:

Make use of five individuals. For qualitative testing, it is advised that studies involve five individuals. Why five? This amount is required, in the opinion of experts, to identify about 85% of issues.

Generate great questions. This is a combination of art and science. Use “why” and “how” questions as frequently as you can instead of leading questions.

Conduct dry-run research. Running one session initially, assessing the results, and then scaling to a larger group of participants is a fantastic idea. This enables modifications to the test’s length, its questions, and/or its administration.

Conclusion

User testing verifies a product’s necessity, whereas usability testing verifies the product’s usefulness. The use of prototypes as a method of obtaining feedback is a common practice among the useful tools that can be used to conduct user testing. Prototypes that have been put through user testing will ultimately produce better, more profitable goods while saving time, money, and resources.