User testing

✅ Why this step helps you build something people actually want to use

You've designed, built, and refined. Now it's time to see how real users interact with it.

User testing helps you understand how people use your product—what works, what confuses, and what needs to improve. Unlike internal reviews or expert testing, this step reveals genuine user behaviour, expectations, and frustrations. It's not about proving you're right—it's about learning how to make it better.

📘 What you’ll learn

  • How users interpret, interact with, and experience your product
  • What design decisions create friction—or delight
  • Where people get stuck, hesitate, or make mistakes
  • How well the product fits into real-life use cases and environments

🛠️ Tools and methods

  • Task-Based Scenario Testing

    Ask users to complete real-world actions (e.g. “Set it up”, “Replace the part”).

  • Observation & Note-Taking

    Watch what users do, not just what they say.

  • Think-Aloud Protocol

    Encourage users to talk through what they’re doing and why.

  • Post-Test Interview or Survey

    Gather reflection, suggestions, and emotional responses.

  • Video Recording (with consent)

    Capture subtle interactions, gestures, or confusion for later analysis.

⚠️ User testing traps to avoid

  • Testing too late. Catching problems post-launch is expensive and risky.
  • Over-explaining. The point is to observe natural behaviour—not coach them through it.
  • Relying on internal testers. Use actual or target users, not your team.
  • Ignoring outliers. One confused user might represent a silent majority.

💡 Insight from real use

“We thought our instructions were clear—until five users in a row asked the same question. We rewrote the guide and reduced support tickets by 40%.”

– UX Lead, Sustainable Consumer Goods Startup

💡 Start testing with just 5 users. Most major usability issues show up fast—and you can iterate quickly.

🔗 Helpful links & resources

✍️ Quick self-check

  • Have we defined clear user tasks or scenarios to test?
  • Are we observing behaviour—not just collecting opinions?
  • Did we record and organise all insights for follow-up action?
  • Are changes being made based on what we’ve learned?

🎨 Visual concept (optional)

Illustration: A user interacts with a prototype while a facilitator takes notes. A second person observes from behind glass or on video. Notes include “Struggled with button”, “Skipped step 2”, and “Said: ‘I didn’t expect that here.’”

Visual shows how user testing reveals real-life product issues that internal teams often miss—before it’s too late.
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