UX Research & User Testing

We don’t live in an ideal world. Most of us have too much work, too little time, and too small a budget. When it comes to digital projects, it seems like our clients or bosses always prioritize speed over quality.

To make matters worse, we read countless articles telling us how we should do things. These articles emphasize research and testing but do nothing more than leave us disillusioned and add to our imposter syndrome.

In this workshop, we want to try a different approach. Instead of telling you the best practices, we will explore some practical approaches to user research that we might be able to fit into our existing projects.

1. The principles of lean user research and testing and how to make a case.
2. When research and testing can be avoided, and how to determine if you need them.
3. Different approaches to user research and testing and why you should favor certain ones.
4. How to conduct upfront user research efficiently, including leveraging existing sources of information and using surveys.
5. Techniques for planning effective information architecture, including top task analysis and card sorting.
6. Methods for testing design concepts include surveys, first-click, and 5-second tests.
7. Best practices for testing prototypes, including remote vs. in-person usability testing and the importance of sample size.
8. Strategies for testing existing websites or apps through analytics, heatmaps, AB testing, and adapting testing for low-traffic sites.