Before a single line of code is written, you need to know you're on the right track to meet user needs.
That’s why prototyping and testing are crucial. These edges ensure you're building the right product for the right people!
By gathering feedback from users, you can validate assumptions and deliver actual value for end users.
Why are prototyping and testing essential for delivering world-class User Experiences?
What is Prototyping?
According to Tom Lowry, Figma’s Director of Advocacy, "Prototyping is a quick way to go from sketches or wireframes to a simulation where you can get user feedback."
Prototyping builds early versions of a product to simulate its design and functionality and collect early user feedback.
This process typically has three fidelity levels: low, mid and high, each with specific goals and deliverables.
The first one, low-fidelity prototypes, quickly translates ideas into tangible layouts.
Teams often use wireframes, visual representations that outline an interface structure and navigation.
The goal is to explore concepts, align on functionality and validate information architecture early.
Once the basic structure is validated, prototypes are refined into mid-fidelity versions.
This level introduces grayscale User Interface (UI) elements used to address accessibility issues, before adding color to the UI.
Mid-fidelity prototypes also add basic typography and limited interactivity, including clickable areas and screen transitions.
In the final level, high-fidelity prototypes resemble the final product in form and function.
These prototypes incorporate visual branding and full interactivity, including functional buttons, dropdown menus, transitions and animations.
Interactive prototypes are used to observe real user interactions, identify issues and assess ease of use.
What is Testing?
Testing, also known as user testing, is a research-driven process where users interact with a prototype and provide feedback.
Here, there are different methods for UX teams to validate their assumptions on product ideas.
For instance, surveys are structured question sets to gather individual perspectives.
Likewise, focus groups are guided discussions with a small group of target users.
While these two techniques are useful, they differ in approach and insights.
Surveys quantify opinions, preferences, or usability ratings, making them useful for identifying patterns or comparing design versions.
On the other hand, focus groups explore user attitudes through group interaction and open conversation.
Testing a prototype provides valuable insights into user interaction, allowing for continuous refinement of the product.
How to Test a Prototype?
The first step is to choose the right testing method.
In this context, the two main approaches are moderated and unmoderated testing.
Moderated Testing involves a facilitator guiding users through the prototype in real time, either in person or remotely.
It’s best used in early stages when the design is still evolving and deeper insights are needed.
On the other hand, Unmoderated Testing allows users to complete tasks independently, often through remote tools.
Since it’s more scalable and faster, it’s more suitable for later stages when you're gathering feedback from a larger group.
Teams must define factors, such as timelines, tasks, environment, tools, stakeholders and user count.
Timelines keep testing on schedule, tasks guide user interactions, and the environment contemplates changes in behavior. Likewise, tools ease testing documentation.
While stakeholders ensure alignment, users strike a balance between meaningful insights and resource usage.
Another key edge is to define specific questions and encourage honest answers to minimize biases.
For example, you can ask participants:
"If you could change one element on this screen, what would it be and why?" or, "What one thing did you expect to see here but didn't?"
With various platforms, teams collect and organize feedback in a single place. This feedback will help identify and prioritize usability issues.
With the findings of these testing practices, teams refine the prototype.
When the refined version meets design goals, the enhanced prototype is handed over to the Software Development team.
Why are Prototype and Testing Important?
Prototype testing ensures that users can effectively utilize and access your product.
Additionally, testing prototypes saves time and money by identifying and addressing errors early in the process.
Feedback from prototype user interactions can also reveal opportunities for improvement.
Examples could include adding more features or refining designs to better meet user expectations.
Testing a prototype can also gather internal feedback from stakeholders and ensure the product aligns with their strategic goals.
Best Practices for Testing a Prototype
1. Users
Teams use the five-user rule for recruitment, as five users can uncover up to 85% of usability issues.
Yet, depending on the method, more users may be needed to gather enough feedback.
When conducting moderated tests, it's best to recruit 6-10 participants.
Conversely, for unmoderated tests (i.e., no direct interaction with users), it's better to recruit up to 40 participants.
2. Goals
If everything is a high priority when testing, then nothing is truly a priority.
Be clear about the purpose, methods and importance of the test.
Define the scope, what you're testing and the KPIs you’ll use to measure success.
It's also key to select tools that support your objectives.
These should help in understanding user flows, validating design decisions or measuring usability.
Likewise, testing tasks must reflect real testing scenarios and focus on the features or interactions that achieve those goals.
3. Document
Failure to document insights gained during prototype testing is a common mistake.
Without proper documentation, valuable feedback can be lost, misinterpreted or overlooked.
That can make it difficult to identify patterns, prioritize improvements or communicate findings.
Organize your findings in folders with labels, tags and categories to summarize and visualize user data insights.
4. Bias
Lastly, maintain neutrality throughout the entire process!
Avoid biases or giving hints that could lead users to act in a certain way.
As a result, feedback will accurately reflect user behavior, rather than what users think you want to hear.
Conclusion
Prototype testing addresses problems early, saving time, money and resources during the UX Design process.
Leaving it for the end is a major mistake that decision-makers can't afford!
Whether you're starting a new project or you're adding new features to an existing one, you need design validation.
As a UX-driven agency with 15 years of experience, we're here to support you.
