Prototype Testing: User Autonomy vs. Necessary Directions
In recent iterative testing projects, I have been conducting concept testing with participants to learn about their experience with our mid-fi clickable prototype. In the prototype, there are 20+ screens, and they are of a linear step-by-step fashion. The selection of each step should feed into the following steps—and ultimately the final step.
In this case, how might we make sure that we learn as much as possible from the participants while also giving them directions to click through the prototype with minimal frustration?
Develop Persona Profile Pictures Using iOS Memoji
Two weeks ago, as part of the discovery phase research activities, my teammates and I were building personas based on our understanding of the users. After we put together the characteristics of each persona and their respective pain points, it was time to turn them into profiles with profile pictures. As the “UX person” on the team, I easily claimed the task. For my teammates, they thought I had more experience in “making the avatar graphics.” For me, truth to be told, it is just always fun to find those avatars, often from some open-source platforms like sketchappsources.com.
The personas for our user group were mostly Asian. Although I had spotted a few line-drawn avatar sets in manga style that bring an Asian-representing feel, I didn’t think there would be beneficial for conversations about our users. Suddenly, one set of avatars caught my eye: “Memoji Style Avatars.” I downloaded them and found one that seemed to be representative of one of our personas I had in mind. For the rest of the avatar collection though, there wasn’t much room for manipulation on Sketch to turn them into something I could use.
Then I thought, why not make some myself? I have an iPhone!
“YOU Take Control as a User Researcher”
After two days of preparing materials, practicing the protocol, and setting up technologies, I finally am able to lead a one-hour pilot session. My mentor and peer teammate are observing behind my participant and me, offering support when I need.
After thanking our pilot participant after the pilot, my mentor closes the door.
I see. I am about to receive the first official “performance feedback” from the team. It’s big for me. It’s exciting. Until then, I have never received a sit-down feedback thing for moderating a user research test session. All I know about myself is that I love saying “I love receiving feedback from my mentors and improving myself based on that feedback.” I’ve said that so many times so that must be true.
“So, what do you think?” My mentor asks.
Just Take A Hint, You.
People who know me know my flaws. I am so comfortable with making conversations with people I know, with people I just met, and even strangers who were just chatting with their stranger friends.
I always thought I was good at taking hints. Well, I’d like to share with you some things that tell another story.
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After two months of interviewing with a company round by round, I encountered another around of everyday small talk.
“Um, I see your resume here. You went to college in California, right?”
“Yes, thanks for asking. I did. In San Diego.”
“So you want to move all the way back from Pittsburgh?”
“I look forward to it.”
“Since you went to college in California before, it means that —“
Long pause.