Why testing matters
You are not your user. However carefully you research and design, people will surprise you. Testing shows whether a design actually works before developers spend weeks building it, and after launch it shows whether it keeps working in real life. Usability testing and prototyping appear in most design adverts, and many also mention working with developers and using data to improve designs.
What this section covers
- Clickable prototypes. Linking your screens so people can try a task on a real phone.
- Usability testing and expert review. Watching people use your prototype, and reviewing screens against well known usability rules called heuristics.
- Working with developers. Handing over designs clearly, with every state and detail, and staying involved while the product is built.
- Measuring what happens after launch. Using simple numbers and feedback to see if the design works for real users, and comparing versions fairly.
Testing is cheap
You do not need a lab, special software or a big budget. A prototype on a phone or laptop, a quiet corner in a market, a school or an office, and a notebook are enough. Paper prototypes work too. A few short sessions with the right people usually reveal the biggest problems, and you can fix them the same day.