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 stepsāand 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?
āYOU Take Control as a User Researcherā
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 āperformance feedbackā from the team. Itās big for me. Itās 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 āI love receiving feedback from my mentors and improving myself based on that feedback.ā Iāve said that so many times so that must be true.
āSo, what do you think?ā My mentor asks.
When Happiness Is So Overrated
I have been on Flickr for a while, especially as a big fan for its "Organizr" function that allows a single photo to be included in multiple galleries. With Flickr acquired by SmugMug, I decided to explore what SmugMug has to offer.
I transferred some old photos and uploaded a few more. Then I received the following message on the screen:
"Hooray! That's 1 happier photo.:)"
I was confused.